From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Iran declares 2-day holiday due to soaring temperatures
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleTEHRAN, Iran — Iran has announced a nationwide two-day holiday because of increasing temperatures, state media reports today.
Government spokesperson Ali Bahadori Jahromi says the decision to close governmental offices, banks and schools tomorrow and Thursday comes after the health ministry warned about a possible increase in cases of heat exhaustion because of high temperatures in the country, the official IRNA news agency reports.
In recent days, cities and towns in Iran saw temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The capital, Tehran, is experiencing 38 C (100.4 F) today.
The metrological office predicts Tehran will see temperatures of 39 C (102.2 F) over the next three days.
Ahvaz, the capital of an oil-rich province in the country’s southwest, is experiencing 50 C (122 F) today.
In 2022, Iran registered its hottest temperature at 53 C (127.4 F) in Ahvaz.
Earth’s hottest day in modern history was likely July 4, when the average global temperature reached reached 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit). It was mainly blamed on climate change and an emerging El Nino pattern.
The highest registered air temperature on Earth is 56.7 C (134 F), recorded July 10, 1913, in Death Valley in the United States.
The Times of Israel Community.