[Johnny Wadd]

Iran is enduring a "heat index" of nearly 72C while Iraq has called a public holiday due to the sweltering temperatures.



Iran is buckling under the pressure of a massive heatwave passing across the Middle East, with temperatures soaring to nearly 70C.

Scorching heat levels of 50C have already paralysed nearby Iraq, where officials were forced to call a four day public holiday because it was too hot to work.

But the word "hot" has taken on an entirely new meaning in Iran's city of Bandar Mahshahr, where it was claimed that the city's heat index, or "feels-like temperature", was among the highest ever recorded.

The heat index was recorded by a group of astonished weather experts who predict the country could be enduring some of the hottest urban temperatures ever endured by mankind.

'That was one of the most incredible temperature observations I have ever seen and it is one of the most extreme readings ever in the world,' said AccuWeather meteorologist Anthony Saglia.

It is just a few degrees lower than the highest ever recorded heat index, which was 178F (81C) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on July 8, 2003.

In neigbouring countries such as Iraq the government has urged residents to drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun amid fears they could be struck down by what experts refer to as a "heat dome" rampaging across the Middle East.

The dome - a type of high pressure ridge that is passing over the region - has exacerbated electricity and water supply issues and makes the scorching heat even more unbearable.

In the south residents have cranked up the air conditioning as high as it will go, while the more lucky among them have escaped to nearby beaches in a desperate bid to cool off.

But some of the most affluent figures in the Middle East are blissfully unaware of the scorching heat, such as Saudia Arabia's King Salman.

He is enjoying a holiday in his luxury vila in France, where a stretch of public beach was closed off to make way for his royal visit - much to the ire of local bathers.

Highest ever temperatures

England
38.5Cin Faversham, Kent, on August 10 2003

Wales
35.2Cin Hawarden Bridge, Flintshire, on August 2 1990 Scotland

32.9Cin Greycrook, Scottish Borders, on August 9 2003 Northern Ireland

30.8Cin Shaw's Bridge, Belfast on July 12 1983 and Knockarevan, County Fermanagh on June 30 1976

Global

56.7Cat Greenland Ranch, Death Valley, California, USA on July 10 1913

Sources: Met Office, Guinness World Records

[winvens]

[commondenom]

nice....hopefully that heatwave will move this way and english summer will finally start properly

[icheerthebull]

fuck that!!! I was stuck in catalonia during the heat wave in 02/03 (I think). I love long daylight hours but I would take ice, snow and rain over that shit again. 70c??

mother earth needs to take her heat and fires the fuck to scotland and leave the overflowing rivers and rain to places that want them! like the planes of africa, or america

If there is a god he needs to fuck off back from whence he came with his 70c!!! heat

[spudigitti]

No wonder those Arabs can't be reasonable about anything......

[Oswald2001]

Originally Posted by spudigitti ↗

No wonder those Arabs can't be reasonable about anything......

Hot heads.

[spudigitti]

[vipersna]

I already know hell had come to the middle east, it seems like th e devil was taking his vacay there anyways?

[vagabond]

Better there than here!

[Johnny Wadd]

I start melting at @85f so I can't even imagine what this must feel like