Iran village records scorching 82.2°C heat index
Record heat index at Dayrestan Airport amid West Asia heatwave
A small village near Iran’s southern coast may have experienced extreme temperatures this week. At Dayrestan Airport, the weather station recorded a heat index of 82.2°C on 28 August. If verified, this heat index and a dew point of 36.1°C could rank among the highest ever recorded globally.
Data from the US’s National Weather Service, which gathers information through METAR (a routine meteorological report for aviation pilots and meteorologists), showed Dayrestan Airport had a temperature of 38.8°C at 10.30am on 28 August. Though this temperature alone isn’t extraordinary, a relative humidity of 85% resulted in a “feels like” temperature of 82.2°C.
Typically, higher temperatures are noted in dry areas with lower humidity, allowing the body to feel cooler. The human body cools itself by sweating. The evaporation of sweat lowers body temperature. However, when sweat cannot evaporate due to high humidity, the body struggles to regulate its temperature, making it feel warmer.
A heat index of 180°F (82.2°C) and a dew point of 97°F (36.1°C) were recorded in southern Iran today.
If these readings are confirmed this would be the highest heat index and dew point ever recorded on Earth. pic.twitter.com/SUfYnJGERT
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) August 28, 2024
Exposure to a heat index between 40-54°C can lead to heatstroke. The dew point is the temperature at which air can no longer hold water vapour.
While these records await verification, a heatwave has engulfed much of West Asia recently, with temperatures peaking at 50°C. Last month, similar conditions led authorities to reduce operating hours and shut down government and commercial institutions on Sundays to conserve energy. Hundreds sought treatment for heatstroke at hospitals.
The 28 August record highlights the worsening climate conditions in the Global South. Experts predict that heatwaves will become longer and more frequent. In an interview on 22 April, Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, warned about the increasing risks of heatwaves, fires, and droughts in hotter summers, and devastating floods in wetter winters.
What Other Media Are Saying
- bne IntelliNews reports a possible record heat index of 82.2°C in southern Iran, exceeding previous records and highlighting extreme heat conditions in the Middle East due to global warming.(read more)
- Hindustantimes reports that an Iranian village has reached a dangerous heat index of 82.2°C, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels, posing severe health risks and threatening lives.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What temperature was recorded at Dayrestan Airport on August 28?
38.8°C
What was the heat index recorded at Dayrestan Airport?
82.2°C
Why does high humidity make it feel hotter?
High humidity prevents perspiration from evaporating, making the body unable to cool itself.
What is the dew point?
The temperature at which air can hold no more water vapor.
What did experts predict about future heatwaves?
Heatwaves are likely to get lengthier and more frequent.
