Heat in Austria only slowly subsides – risk of severe weather rises

Monday: Heat persists, first thunderstorms in the west

From midday, powerful cumulus clouds form quite widely there. Subsequently, some, occasionally severe thunderstorms are to be expected. In places, heavy rain, hail, and isolated gale-force gusts can also occur. "Mit den anhaltend hohen Temperaturen steigt auch die Unwettergefahr", according to the forecast.

On Tuesday, conditions in the western half will be unsettled all day, with a mix of clouds and sunny breaks, and several thunderstorms and rain showers are to be expected. Further toward the east, the sun shines more frequently before a few isolated, but occasionally severe thunderstorm cells can develop, with a focus over the mountainous regions. On Tuesday, some cooling follows, but it can be quite muggy.

Tuesday: Cooling in the west, muggy air

On Tuesday, the wind will be weak to moderate from changing directions, initially towards the east also brisk from west-northwest. Early temperatures show 16 to 26 degrees, daytime highs reach 25 to 38 degrees from west to east. In places, it will be very muggy.

On Wednesday, a moderate to brisk westerly wind picks up, but gale-force gusts are possible in thunderstorms. Early temperatures will be between 13 and 25 degrees, with daytime highs climbing from west to east to 22 to 34 degrees. Wednesday starts already rainy in the west. Further toward the east, the sun initially shines for longer, but at the latest by the afternoon, rain showers and thunderstorms are to be expected quite widely.

Wednesday and Thursday: Wind picks up, temperatures fall

On Thursday, residual disturbance zones move rapidly eastward and sunny weather sets in in most regions. Only on the northern side of the Alps and in the north will there still be local rain showers. The wind will be brisk in the east, along the eastern edge of the Alps, and in the Tauern region, and in exposed locations also strong. Early temperatures will be twelve to 19 degrees, with daytime highs reaching a pleasant 22 to 28 degrees.

On Friday, a weak disturbance zone arrives from the northwest and the tendency for occasional thundery rain showers temporarily increases in many regions. Only in the south does it remain sunny throughout. The wind blows moderately to briskly from the west to northwest in the north and east. Early temperatures are between nine and 19 degrees, daytime highs between 23 and 30 degrees.

Pressure wave from Bavaria and Upper Austria

Particular attention is drawn to a larger thunderstorm system that can develop over Bavaria and Upper Austria during the course of the afternoon. Originating from there, "kann jedoch eine Druckwelle hervorgerufen werden, die in den Abendstunden bis weit in den Osten hinein kräftige Westwindböen mit sich bringt". This means that squall-like gusts on late Monday evening cannot be ruled out even in regions further to the east.

The persistent heat in combination with the approaching thunderstorm front increases, according to GeoSphere Austria's assessment, the overall probability of severe weather developments with heavy rain, hail, and gale-force gusts. For Vorarlberg, Tyrol, and parts of Upper Austria, meteorologists already expect the first showers during the forenoon, and during the course of the day the thunderstorms then spread further east.

The balance for June, according to GeoSphere Austria, is exceptional: The report bears the title "Rekordjuni – Hitze baut sich nur langsam ab, Unwettergefahr steigt". This places this year's June in a series of particularly warm months, the effects of which on agriculture, energy supply, and health will only become apparent gradually.

Looking ahead to the coming days, GeoSphere Austria recommends following official warnings closely and exercising particular caution in the affected regions on Monday and Tuesday.