Middle Eastern cities record highest global temperatures
Scorching heat waves were recorded in Europe and the Middle East, where cities in three Gulf countries recorded some of the highest temperatures in the world.
Swamps in southern Iraq and the city of Amarah recorded temperatures above 50 degrees on June 18. [ASAAD NIAZI/AFP via Getty]
Several Gulf countries and Iran recorded the highest temperatures in the world on Saturday, as a new wave of heat swept through the Middle East and Europe.
Cities in Iraq, Kuwait and Oman topped the list of the world’s hottest cities on June 18, recording temperatures between 49 and 50.4 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature, 50.4 degrees Celsius, was recorded in the town of Amarah in the Iraqi swamps, followed by several towns in Iran.
Middle East Heat Wave: Today June 18, the United Arab Emirates reached 49.8 C, while Iran returned to over 50 C yesterday. Very hot nights too: 37.4 C Min. Temperature in Hoseyniyeh and today 35.0C in Iranshar (591m asl). Temperatures will rise further in the coming days with peaks of 51C-52C. pic.twitter.com/Eh6d57z09q
— Extreme temperatures around the world (@extremetemps) June 18, 2022
Europe has also been paralyzed for days by an exceptional heat wave which “marked history”, according to climate experts. Temperatures were above 40 degrees in some places, well above June averages.
(5) Today, June 18 has entered the history of Europe.
First 35C of the year also in Benelux with 35.7C at Chièvres in Belgium and 35.2C at Remich in Luxembourg.
First >35C also in Czech Republic at Doksany, much warmer tomorrow. Another carnage of records is expected tomorrow. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/WVgf7YygOM— Extreme temperatures around the world (@extremetemps) June 18, 2022
The scorching heat sparked devastating blazes in Spain, where firefighters battled dozens of simultaneous wildfires in the Catalonia region for five straight days.
Climatologists have been warning for years about the destabilizing impact of human industrial activity on the Earth’s climate. Industrial activity and transportation release huge volumes of carbon (CO2) into the atmosphere, leading to significant warming of the atmosphere and disrupting natural climate mechanisms.
Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations group of scientists and experts, paint a bleak future for the Middle East region if world leaders do not act. now to reduce carbon emissions.
Climate experts say the Middle East is set to get hotter, drier and increasingly exposed to natural hazards like sandstorms, flash floods and mudslides, which could make some parts of the unlivable region.
