Middle East nears record for hottest day ever

Though unofficial, the rise in Iran’s heat index is to challenge the reported highest heat index ever recorded. This town has a population of 110,000. To achieve today’s astronomical heat index level of 165, Bandar Mahshahr’s actual air temperature registered 115 degrees (46 Celsius) with an astonishing dew point temperature of 90 (32 Celsius). This translated to a heat index of 154 degrees Fahrenheit, or 67.8 degrees Celsius. That means it felt like 159 degrees outside.

A port city located in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, Bandar Mahshahr has its proximity to the Persian Gulf to blame for the incredible temperature readings, AccuWeather meteorologist Anthony Sagliani said. “The ridge of high pressure will remain in place across the Middle East through at least the next week, so more oppressive heat and humidity, and more astounding apparent temperatures, are likely through the next several days”, Sagliani said. Chart showing temperature, dew point in index in Bandar Mahshahr over last 36 hours, using National Weather Service heat index value calculations. That made it feel like 165 degrees this afternoon.

“In his book Extreme Weather, a weather historian says Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, also on the Persian Gulf, logged a heat index of around 155-160 degrees on July 8, 2003″.

The extreme heat in Iran comes in the midst of a Mideast-wide heat wave, with the Iraqi government having declared a mandatory four-day heat holiday as temperatures climbed to 122 degrees Fahrenheit in Baghdad two days in a row, which is just two degrees Fahrenheit shy of the city’s all-time high temperature record.