In eastern Austria, in the city of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, a temperature of 41.2°C was recorded, setting a new record and surpassing the previous mark of 41°C, which was established the day before in the capital, Vienna. This was reported by the national meteorological agency GeoSphere Austria.
In Slovakia, in the village of Kamenica nad Hornom, a temperature increase to 41.4°C was registered, beating the former record of 41.3°C set at the same location in June. This information was disclosed by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU).
These temperature records occurred against a backdrop of exceptional heat and low precipitation in Central Europe. Scientists note that climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, leads to an increase in the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events.
Austria is already experiencing an exceptionally hot and dry July, accompanied by widespread drought. In Vienna, the capital, a 20-year-old ice cream vendor named Kristina stated that 'the fan saves us; it is our life raft.' She gave these comments to the news agency AFP on Tuesday evening.
According to Kristina, the commercial streets of the capital are deserted, and sales only improve closer to the evening when the temperature begins to drop.
