2 months ago
8
A weather station near Dayrestan Airport in southern
Iran
recorded a
heat index
of 180°F (82.2°C) and a
dew point
of 97°F (36.1°C) this week, possibly setting a new record for the highest heat index and dew point ever recorded on Earth, according to a post by US-based meteorologist
Colin McCarthy
on X (formerly Twitter).
Colin first shared the record readings and expressed doubts about their accuracy.
He pointed out that nearby
weather stations
reported much lower dew points. "An official investigation will need to be completed to determine if these readings are accurate," said McCarthy.
The extreme figures, generated by an air
temperature
of 102°F (38.9°C) combined with 85% relative
humidity
near a village in Iran's Southern part, have raised concerns and calls for an official investigation, as per weather data released by the US national weather service.
Staying in temperatures with a heat index of 40-54°C for too long can lead to heatstroke.
The dew point is the temperature at which air can no longer hold moisture, causing it to condense.
When the body overheats, it sweats to cool down. Sweat evaporates from the skin, which helps lower body temperature. However, if sweat can’t evaporate due to high humidity, the body struggles to cool itself, making it feel hotter in humid conditions.
In dry regions, temperatures tend to be higher but the humidity is lower, making the air feel cooler.
"A historic heatwave is occurring across much of the Middle East, and one weather station in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia—which currently holds the world record dew point of 95°F (35°C)—has recorded a dew point as high as 93°F (33.9°C) in recent days", said McCarthy. However, he pointed out that many other weather stations in the region reported dew points mostly in the upper 80s.
