You may have thought that summer was over. But it's time to dig out your shorts, hat and sunscreen once again, because another blast of heat is coming to Austria in the last days of August.
After a period of cooler – and wetter – weather, highs of around 33C are expected in some areas.
Geosphere Austria has issued 'yellow' warnings urging people to take precautions due to the heat. The warnings are in place in eastern and some southern parts of the country on Thursday and Friday.
A summer of heat
Austria has seen several debilitating heatwaves since June, with record-breaking temperatures. In the first week of August, an alarming 41.2C was recorded in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Lower Austria.
At the same time, the prolonged heatwave gave little respite at night, making it difficult for people to rest.
The extreme weather has resulted in an uptick in heat-related deaths and major disruption to daily life. Meanwhile, a drought has wreaked havoc on agriculture and hit the economy.
Experts have told The Local that Austria will see more of these extreme weather events due to global warming.
READ ALSO: Could 40C summers become more common in Austria?
The heat spell forecast for the last days of August, however, isn't expected to drag out too long.
Here's a look at what's in store this week.
Get prepared for high temperatures
The weather starts off mixed on Monday and Tuesday, with some rain in western regions and plenty of sunshine in the east.
Vienna sees highs of 26C, with Salzburg hitting 25C, while Innsbruck is set to see some thunderstorms and highs of 26C.
Mountainous areas in general can expect a few more showers and storms.
On Tuesday, it will remain under 30C generally, though it will be slightly cooler in central and western areas and showers continue.
On Wednesday, temperatures will start to creep up, with highs of 27-28C expected around the country as well as sunshine.
The higher temperatures kick in on Thursday. Along with blazing sunshine, most parts of Austria are set to see temperatures over 30C, as shown in the GeoSphere Austria map below.
On Friday, it will get a little hotter in some places, with 33C forecast in Graz, as the GeoSphere map below shows. Thunderstorms may also hit western and northern areas.
As things stand, it will get cooler on Saturday with highs of 26C in Vienna and 23C in Innsbruck. Bring your Übergangsjacke (seasonal transitional jacket) if you leave the house because plenty of rain is forecast, too.
How to manage hot days in Austria
With a new heat spell arriving, it's important to be prepared. Make sure you're stocked up on high SPF sunscreen and wear loose clothing.
Avoid spending time in the direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day and don't do any strenuous physical activity.
Make sure to drink water regularly and eat enough.
Residents in Austria are also urged to check on elderly relatives, friends and neighbours. Older people, young children, pregnant people and those with chronic illnesses are among the groups most vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.
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