Record-breaking heat scorches regions across four continents as marine heatwave intensifies

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LONDON — Scorching heat swept across parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America this week, breaking temperature records and triggering warnings from meteorologists that extreme conditions will persist in the days ahead. Temperatures began rising sharply in early June and surged again this week across the Mediterranean and Europe, including Türkiye. On Thursday, Türkiye recorded temperatures between 6°C and 12°C above seasonal norms. The eastern district of Silopi in Şırnak Province logged the nation’s highest temperature at a sweltering 50.5°C (122.9°F). Other regions saw similarly extreme readings, including 49.6°C in Kızıltepe, 49.4°C in Cizre, and 49.3°C in Nusaybin. Six weather stations across the country recorded temperatures above 49°C. In Greece, Skala on the Peloponnese Peninsula hit 46°C (114.8°F), while Lindos on Rhodes Island registered 43.6°C (110.5°F). Albania’s Vlore reached 42.4°C (108.3°F), and Sarajevo in Bosnia recorded 39°C (102.2°F). Finland, far to the north, saw an unprecedented 14 consecutive days with temperatures of 30°C (86°F) or more—a record since 1961. In Sweden, daytime highs of 30°C were reported, along with unusually warm nighttime temperatures of 23°C (73.4°F). Extreme heat also gripped Southeast Asia. Thailand’s Chawang reached 36.5°C (97.7°F), Surigao in the southern Philippines hit 36.2°C (97.2°F), and Indonesia’s Palu recorded 37°C (98.6°F). Japan’s northern city of Otaru experienced 34°C (93.2°F), while many areas exceeded 30°C. Malaysia also reported widespread high temperatures. In the Middle East, Baghdad is forecast to reach 49°C (120.2°F) on Friday. Egypt, Oman, and other regional countries are also bracing for continued extreme heat through the weekend. Meanwhile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that dangerous heat conditions are expected to persist due to stubborn high-pressure systems gripping parts of the country. Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist with the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, warned that sea surface temperatures across the Mediterranean, including the Aegean Sea, are significantly above average. As of July 22, the Aegean Sea’s surface temperature was 3°C (5.4°F) above the 1992–2020 average. “During the week of July 20 to 26, the extent and intensity of the marine heatwave in the Eastern Mediterranean increased,” she said, noting moderate to strong heatwave conditions, especially in the northwestern Aegean. Globally, the average surface temperature as of July 22 reached 16.64°C (61.95°F), which is 0.38°C (0.68°F) higher than the 1992–2020 average, according to Copernicus data. — Agencies