Egypt has witnessed an unprecedented rise in temperatures in recent weeks, reaching nearly 50 degrees Celsius in Aswan, located in the southern part of the country. This situation has sparked questions regarding the reasons behind the repeated occurrence of such heatwaves in close intervals. According to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, the temperature in Aswan reached 49.6 degrees Celsius in the shade last Thursday, making it the highest recorded temperature globally for that day.
The recent temperature rise has been attributed to extremely hot winds blowing from the Arabian Peninsula, coupled with a sharp increase in humidity levels. This comes alongside warnings of a new "extremely hot" wave hitting the country starting next Wednesday and lasting for ten days, with climate information centers indicating that "expectations suggest temperatures during this wave will reach record levels."
Mamdouh Shaheen, the director of forecasts and early warning at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, stated in an interview with "Sky News Arabia" that "the main reason for the recurrence of these extreme heatwaves is climate change." Shaheen explained that Egypt has not recorded such extreme heat indicators frequently, with notable occurrences happening about two decades ago. Specifically, in 2002, the cities of Draa and Kharga, near Aswan, recorded the same high temperature (49.6 degrees) in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
However, in recent years, this phenomenon has intensified. Shaheen noted that "when such high temperatures were recorded, it was limited to one or two days over scattered intervals, but this has changed in recent years, with extreme heatwaves occurring multiple times a year and at record temperatures." He also indicated that it is possible for Egypt to experience such heatwaves again in the coming weeks, especially with the approach of summer beginning on June 21.
Regarding his summer predictions for this year, Shaheen mentioned that "according to climate data and seasonal forecasts, this summer will be about one to two degrees above the normal average, leading to a hot season with increased humidity and extreme heatwaves."
Dr. Samir Tantawy, a climate change consultant at the United Nations, expressed in his comments to "Sky News Arabia" that the significant rise in temperatures across various Egyptian governorates falls under "extreme weather events resulting from climate change and increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."
He identified the following points regarding the impact of climate change on weather conditions:
- We are not accustomed to such extreme weather events, whether it be "sharp increases or significant decreases in temperatures, or occurrences of droughts and floods," all due to imbalance in climatic conditions.
- Egypt is among the countries that contribute minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, yet as long as there is an increase in global concentrations of these gases, it is expected that the frequency of extreme weather events will rise.
He noted that the World Meteorological Organization issued a report months ago stating that 2023 is the hottest year on record since temperature recordings began; thus, conditions are becoming more extreme year after year. Generally, an increase in heatwaves and extreme weather events is anticipated globally, with Egypt being one of the most affected countries. Previously, the United Nations warned that there is a "high probability" the year 2024 will witness unprecedented temperatures, following the conclusion of last year, which was the hottest decade on record.
