The first heat wave of the year is currently sweeping across Austria. It gets warmer every day, with the mercury rising to 36 degrees on Friday. The pent-up energy is likely to be unleashed brutally, especially in the east of the republic.
The storm center warns of severe storms on Friday and Saturday nights. While the heat reaches its peak in eastern Austria on Friday with temperatures reaching 36 degrees, thunderstorms are expected to start in the west. The storms then spread eastward, meteorologists report.
Initially, a fairly sunny day is expected on Friday. In the west it will initially be 22 to 30 degrees, with the first rain and thunderstorms possible in the morning. The first rain showers then cool the air temperature.
In the east there is a chance of severe weather due to heavy rain, large hail and heavy showers, especially on Friday afternoon and Saturday night. The chance of severe weather will decrease on Saturday as the energetic air will clear.
Heat protection plan revised
Politicians want to better prepare the population for frequent heat waves in the future. The National Heat Protection Plan has been in place in Austria for seven years, but has now been revised due to climate change.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced at a press conference in Vienna on Wednesday that measures must be more widely informed and that the countries must intensify their exchange. It was said that up to 500 heat deaths occur every year. Infants, small children, the elderly and the chronically ill are particularly affected.
Heat is underestimated
On behalf of the ministry, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) has now adapted the national plans to international standards. Informing the population is particularly important because heat is still underestimated.
Everyone is affected, both healthy and sick people, said the director of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Johannes Pleiner-Duxneuner. “Excessive heat impairs the ability to regulate body temperature and has a direct impact on cardiovascular disease.”
Source: Krone
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