Heatwave Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures to the Middle East

Heatwave Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures to the Middle East
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A “hellish” heatwave has brought record-breaking nighttime temperatures to the Middle East, with Jordan and Israel experiencing their hottest nights ever recorded.

According to a report from The Guardian, nocturnal temperatures in some parts of Jordan and Israel remained a full 5°C hotter than the threshold for “hellish” nights, which are informally defined as nights where temperatures do not drop below 30°C. In Sedom, Israel, the temperature did not fall below 36°C (96.8°F) on Tuesday night, setting a new record. In Jordan, cities like Ghor es-Safi and Aqaba saw temperatures remain above 35°C (95°F).

The heatwave is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where limited electricity and fuel make it nearly impossible to find relief from the soaring temperatures, which have exceeded 40°C. According to the UN agency for Palestinians (Unrwa), the heat is making a desperate situation “far worse” by increasing the risk of dehydration among the population.