KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Kuwait recorded the third highest temperature in the world on Saturday, according Eldorado Weather website that specializes in temperature indicators. The website reported that the temperature reached about 49.3 degrees Celsius at Kuwait International Airport -- the third highest on Earth. The website stated that the city of Omidiyeh in Iran ranked first, as its temperature reached 51 degrees Celsius, followed by Basra in Iraq with 50 degrees Celsius.

A number of weather experts cited drought and climate change as among the causes the extreme heat that Kuwait is currently experiencing. Meanwhile, meteorologist Issa Ramadan noted that the current record-breaking temperatures in the country are exceeding the usual averages by approximately 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, reports Al-Qabas daily. He explained this intense heatwave stems from the influence of the Indian monsoon low over the region, coupled with dry, hot winds sweeping across the valleys and desert regions to the north of Kuwait from Iraq. These factors, he added, have led to a significant spike in temperatures, indicating an abnormality in recent heatwaves. Ramadan attributed this phenomenon to shifts in the global climate and the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which tends to elevate heatwaves during summers following unusually heavy winter and spring rains. He drew parallels to weather conditions observed in the autumn of 1997 and the summer of 1998.

Furthermore, he provided some relief by stating that starting today, northwest winds will become active, bringing about a moderation in weather conditions. The dust stirred up in land areas will also settle at a later time. These winds are expected to remain moderate to active throughout Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, accompanied by raised dust levels in land areas. Consequently, there will be a relative decrease in temperatures, returning to normal levels by Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Looking ahead, Ramadan anticipated the return of relative humidity next Thursday evening as winds shift to the southeast, persisting through Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This shift will usher in rising temperatures and an atmosphere characterized by oppressive heat and humidity.

By Muhammad Al-Musleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies