Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Aaron Morris

Think the UK is hot? Here are seven places much warmer than 40C this week

The extreme heat currently being experienced in the UK is certainly one for the history books.

With weather experts at the Met Office issuing the county's first ever red warning for heat in certain parts, with an amber warning elsewhere, it's certainly unusually hot for this part of the world.

Newcastle upon Tyne is expected to reach highs of 36C on Tuesday with some parts of the UK potentially seeing record-breaking temperatures of 43C - with senior Government officials holding an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the extreme heat.

Read more: NHS advice on coping in heatwaves as North East temperatures rise

And although the temperature is unusual for Britons - who are more used to cloudy and windier days - it's the norm in other parts of the world. Let's take a look at some corners of the globe which will be hotter then the UK's anticipated 40C this week.

Death Valley, California, USA:
Death Valley National Park, California (Getty Images)

With a name like Death Valley, you would certainly expect this corner of California to be excruciatingly hot. And the mercury in DV this week is set to reach as high as 48C - minus Sunday, when the needle will drop generously by one degree Celsius.

The hottest temperature known to man was actually recorded in this desert back in July 1913 - when the World Meteorological Organization allegedly recorded unbearable temperatures in excess of 56C. Usual summertime heats in the valley itself usually are modestly below this, but still hover around the 45C mark.

Baghdad, Iraq:
A sandstorm in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)

At the time of writing, it's currently 46C in Baghdad, Iraq, which is known for its sizzling temperature over the summer time. However, the hottest this week is still yet to come, as the climate rises significantly to 48C on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday still seeing heats of 47C respectively.

Last July, both Amara and Al Basrah peaked at 53C on July 30, falling slightly short of Basra's record heats of 53.8C set in 2016.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
Capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia is notoriously too hot to handle for British tourists, with many often scoffing at the ridiculous heats when it's suggested for a week in the sun. And the capital city, Riyadh, proves no cooler this week with highs of 46C expected across the board, Monday to Sunday.

Of course, this falls far short of the record 52C noted across Saudi Arabia in July 2010, but it's still far too much to handle for some who aren't used to it.

Kuwait City, Kuwait:
Heavy dust in Kuwait City, Kuwait (NOUFAL IBRAHIM/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Known for its sizzling temperatures, Kuwait is usually one of the choice hotspots for British tourists looking for a silky tan. Those visiting this week however will be in for a nasty shock, with brutal heats bearing down.

There isn't one day this week in which Kuwait is expected to see highs of less than 40C - but Saturday will prove to be especially sticky. 46C is expected in Kuwait City, with 45C anticipated on Tuesday.

Doha, Qatar:
Doha, Qatar (Banana Island resort)

Slightly cooler than the aforementioned locations is Doha in Qatar, but make no mistake, it is still forecasted to exceed expectations here on British soil. Highs of 44C are anticipated to come into play today, with the rest of the week teetering between 39C and 43C depending on the day.

Doha's record high is expected to be safe for another week though, with the current high of 50.4C nowhere near threat as it stands.

Dalol, Ethiopia:

Tuesday will prove to be especially hot in Dalol, Ethiopia - with temperatures of 46C expected. It comes as no surprise considering that Dalol has been crowned the hottest place year-round on the face of the Earth.

With an average year-round temperature of 34.6C recorded in the years between 1960 and 1966 - nowhere has even came close to besting Dalol for its accolade. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the city is also 49C - compared to the UK's efforts of 38.7C reached in Cambridge in 2019.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA:
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (Daily Mirror)

Considering Las Vegas is a desert strip in the middle of Nevada, it comes as no great shock that humid temperatures are often expected. This week will see highs of 46C come Thursday, while the rest of the week displays collar shaking heats between 41C and 45C.

The hottest ever temperature recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada, is thought to be in the ballpark of 47.8C back in July 1931 - but this figure is highly disputed.

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.