IRAQ Declares 2nd ‘Heat Holiday’ Of July 2015 As All-Time Records Are Challenged

Written by Mark Vogan on July 31, 2015 in Asia, Summer 2015 with 0 Comments

Within the past 10 days, I posted an article on the gruelling heat wave torturing Iraq. As expected, yet another surge of extreme heat is bringing temperatures widely above 120F, forcing the government to issue it’s second ‘heat holiday’.

These were the values reached during the last heat wave.

Credit: weather channel

This holiday, like the last is due to the combination of high temperature, frequent power cuts, water shortages and lack of air conditioning. Not forgetting the 3 million Iraqi’s displaced by the ongoing conflict, many of which live within oven-like tents.

Credit: Mustafa al-Najafi

People buy blocks of ice in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, July 30, 2015. Scorching temperatures are normal this time of year, but an unprecedented heat wave prompted Iraqi authorities to declare a mandatory four-day holiday beginning Thursday. The government has urged residents to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water. (AP Photo/ Nabil al-Jurani)

Temperatures yesterday surpassed the 50C or 122F mark in the capital, Baghdad. Najaf to the north reached 51C or 124F.

Credit: WeatherBell

Due to the extreme heat, hundreds of fish have been seen dead, floating in a sweltering Euphrates River.

Credit: #IRAQ شمرية العراق

So hot you need oven mits to hold your car steering wheel?

Credit: MaRwA TaReQ

According to weather records researcher Maximiliano Herrera, the hottest temperature recorded in Baghdad was 51 degrees Celsius, or 124 degrees Fahrenheit. At Nassirya Airport, the all-time record is higher, at 127.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 53 degrees Celsius, Herrera’s weather records website states.

Iraq weather forecast in Arabic. Living on the edge of hell says one man.

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Credit: DAHLIA_ABBAS

Now this is one hellish forecast for Basrah in the south!

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As for the Persian Gulf coast, the combination of extreme air temperature and dew point, real feels are typically highest anywhere on earth and that was certainly the case yesterday as well.

Bandar Mahshahr, Iran: Temp: 109F (43C) Dew Point: 90F (32C)

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