The summer of 2023 saw record temperatures across all continents, but the worst heat wave in decades was felt in Iraq, where a city called Khanaqin saw temperatures exceed 50C for seven days in a row. Kirkuk, an oil-prone city, had three nights with lows above 37C.

Khanaqin, a city of 175,000 inhabitants near the border with Iran, had seven days in a row (August 9-15) with maximum temperatures above 50 C, the hottest being August 13, +52.4 C. The next day it was +51 .5 C. And the nights were impossible, with minimums even up to 37 C.

Iraq, being a country with serious economic problems, has long blackouts, air conditioners are a luxury, and incredibly hot nights make life even more difficult. In the million-strong city of Kirkuk, the air temperature exceeded 37 degrees for three nights.

In Hanakin, over the past month, the maximum temperature has always exceeded 45 degrees Celsius at midday, with the pleasantest night bringing a minimum of 27 degrees Celsius.

In Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, the temperature was 52°C in early August and 51.5°C on the 13th.

Temperatures above 50 degrees were also recorded in Baghdad, as well as in the Iranian city of Ahwaz.

Source: ogimet.met

Photo source: Dreamstime.com