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From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) (On Vacation) (jesse{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Wed Jul 31 2002 - 13:20:08 EDT
Heat Wave in the Middle East (AP REPORT)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020730/ap_wo_en_po/mideast_heat_wave_3
"CAIRO, Egypt - Hot summers certainly aren't unusual in the Middle East.
But there's hot, and then there's hot.
Hot enough, over the past few months, to strain power systems in the Gulf,
usually well prepared for the heat, and in Egypt and elsewhere as people
crank up the air conditioning. Heat-related deaths and illnesses have been
reported.
The Emirates weather department said the average temperature in the
Emirates during June and July has been above the normal average of 41
degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit). The maximum temperature on Tuesday in the
Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, was 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit).
In Saudi Arabia, Saudi police warned residents of the kingdom Tuesday to
avoid summer desert trips after three people, including a prince, died
under the desert's searing sun. Temperatures in the desert, which covers
most of the kingdom, can easily reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
According to Bahrain's weather department, temperatures in June and July
have been above the average 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit), at times
reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit). Apparent temperatures, which
factor in wind and humidity, have been around 54 degrees Celsius (129
degrees Fahrenheit). Humidity has hit 80 percent.
Bahrain has experienced a spate of power cuts. The Gulf country is spending
millions of dollars on the expansion of its national electricity network to
cope with the surging power demands during the summer.
In Oman, temperatures soared to above 51 degrees Celsius (129 Fahrenheit)
for the first time in 12 years. Normal temperatures around this time of the
year range between 43 to 45 degrees Celsius (up to 113 degrees), according
to the Omani weather department.
In Jordan, the meteorology department forecast 37 degrees (98.6 Fahrenheit)
in the Jordanian capital Amman and as high as 43 degrees (109.4) in desert
regions and in the southern Red Sea port of Aqaba. Meteorology head Haitham
al-Shaer said temperatures were four to six degrees above normal and that
similar highs haven't been recorded in several years.
In Jordan's neighbor Iraq, the temperature in Baghdad Tuesday was 48
Celsius (118.4). The summer heat has been aggravated by almost daily
electricity cuts all over Iraq.
Officials say Egypt's electricity use has increased up to 40 percent since
the beginning of July. Power in Damascus, the Syrian capital, was cut for
several hours in many parts of the city on Tuesday."
-- ==================================================== Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist & Internet Developer - WeatherMatrix 4000 Weather Enthusiasts Can't Be Wrong! www.weathermatrix.net[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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