Heat wave in Carinthia: temperatures rise to an alarming 38 degrees!

Heat wave in Carinthia: temperatures rise to an alarming 38 degrees!

In Austria we are currently experiencing a heat wave that is not only inviting people to sweat, but is also setting new temperature records. A sweaty maximum of 38 degrees was measured on Thursday in St. Andrä im Lavanttal in Carinthia. This represents a significant increase in the red heat warning level that was declared for parts of Carinthia. Things look anything but cool in other cities too: Ferlach reached 37.8 degrees, while Vienna-Unterlaa landed at 37.5 degrees. Even in the Prater it was quite oppressive at 36.9 degrees, and Klagenfurter Lindwurm cracked the 46 degree mark. For Linz, however, it was even 52.7 degrees that the thermometer showed, like that crown reported.

The summer temperatures are not just limited to Carinthia, as 38 degrees were measured in Graz, and Innsbruck can't complain either - there the values ​​climbed to 35.2 degrees before the longed-for rain came in the evening. Even regions like Eisenstadt and Salzburg had to contend with temperatures of 34 and over 30 degrees, while Bregenz got off relatively lightly with a more pleasant 28 degrees. If you look at the upcoming weekend, there will be a high of 33 degrees for the next few days. However, thunderstorms are possible in the south and east on Friday, and from Monday there will be a foreseeable cooling, which will be accompanied by rain and further thunderstorms.

Climate change as a trigger

The current temperatures are not just the result of normal summer weather. According to the Copernicus climate report, Europe is described as a climate change hotspot. 2024 was the warmest year on record, bringing temperatures more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events kept Europe on tenterhooks, with at least 44 days being the hottest on record. This also has global consequences, such as: daily news explained.

The effects are dramatic. A torrential rain in Valencia led to severe flooding that killed over 200 people. Melting glaciers in the Alps and a record temperature in Svalbard of 2.5 degrees above average underline how serious the situation is. Most European countries are experiencing extended periods of drought and heat, which could also significantly impact agricultural production. In the summer of 2024, many regions where sea surface temperatures rose above average experienced severe flooding - hundreds of thousands of people were affected and needed assistance.

Need for action required

In view of these developments, it is even more important that cities like Vienna quickly implement measures to adapt to climate change. Encouragingly, 50 percent of European cities are showing a commitment to better prepare for the challenges of climate change - a huge increase compared to just 26 percent seven years ago. Such adaptation measures are not only necessary but also unavoidable in order to protect future generations from similar extreme situations. Positive examples can be found in cities like Paris or Milan, which have already taken the first steps in this direction, such as by Mirror reported.

It remains to be seen how the weather situation will develop in the coming weeks. One thing is certain, however: addressing the consequences of climate change will be of central importance for our society and our climate activism.