LONDON / ANKARA

Record-breaking temperatures scorched parts of the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, the US, and the Middle East this week, with forecasters warning that the extreme heat will persist in the coming days.

Data compiled by Anadolu showed that the heat, which began intensifying in early June, has returned across the Mediterranean and parts of Europe, including Türkiye.

On Thursday, temperatures in Türkiye were 6 to 12 degrees Celsius (10.8 to 21.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above seasonal norms. The highest recorded temperature reached 50.5°C (122.9°F) in Silopi, a district in the eastern province of Sirnak.

Other high readings included 49.6°C (121.3°F) in Kiziltepe, 49.4°C (120.9°F) in Cizre, and 49.3°C (120.7°F) in Nusaybin. In total, six weather stations across the country recorded temperatures above 49°C (120.2°F).

Europe

In Greece, the Skala region of the Peloponnese Peninsula hit 46°C (114.8°F), while the town of Lindos on Rhodes Island saw a record 43.6°C (110.5°F).

In neighboring Albania, Vlore recorded 42.4°C (108.3°F), while Sarajevo reached 39°C (102.2°F).

Further north, Finland’s Meteorological Institute reported that parts of the country experienced 30°C (86°F) or higher for 14 consecutive days—a first since records began in 1961. In Sweden, some regions saw daytime highs of 30°C and nighttime temperatures of 23°C (73.4°F).

Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, the Chawang region in southern Thailand reached 36.5°C (97.7°F), Surigao in the southern Philippines saw 36.2°C (97.2°F), and Indonesia’s Palu recorded 37°C (98.6°F).

Japan’s northern city of Otaru saw temperatures of 34°C (93.2°F), while other parts of the country surpassed 30°C (86°F). High temperatures were also reported across Malaysia.

Middle East, Africa

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that dangerous heat conditions are expected to continue due to persistent high-pressure systems.

Temperatures in Baghdad are forecast to reach 49°C (120.2°F) on Friday, while other parts of the Middle East, including Egypt, Oman, Türkiye, and Greece, are also expected to face continued heat through the weekend.

Marine heat wave intensifies in Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean

Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist with the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, told Anadolu that sea surface temperatures across large parts of the Mediterranean—including the Aegean Sea—are significantly elevated.

She said that as of July 22, the Aegean Sea’s surface temperature was 3°C (5.4°F) higher than the 1992–2020 average.

“During the week of July 20 to 26, the extent and intensity of the marine heatwave in the Eastern Mediterranean increased,” Emerton said, noting that conditions ranged from moderate to strong heat wave levels, particularly in the northwestern Aegean.

According to Copernicus data, the global average surface temperature as of July 22 was 16.64°C (61.95°F), 0.38°C (0.68°F) above the 1992–2020 average.