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54C Recorded In Kuwait Likely Hottest On Record In Asia (foxnews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the end-is-nigh dept.

An anonymous reader writes from an Associated Press report: The UN weather agency said it suspects that the 54C temperature recorded in Kuwait has set a record for the eastern hemisphere. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said Tuesday it is setting up a committee to look into whether the temperature recorded last Thursday in Mitrabah, Kuwait, was a new high for the eastern hemisphere and in Asia. WMO's Omar Baddour said it is "likely" to be an eastern hemisphere record. Last week, swathes of the Middle East and North Africa and were hit by heatwaves that have become more frequent over the last half-century, and Earth is fresh off the hottest six months on record. WMO says the world record high of 56.7C was recorded at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California, in 1913. In the UAE, highs of 49C are expected inland on Wednesday. Last year, the mercury rose above 50C in Sweiham, near Al Ain.An article on Citylab, citing NOAA's latest analysis notes that it was the warmest June in the modern history and also the 14th consecutive month of unprecedented hotness.

5 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. That's 129.2F if you're interested. by Phasedshift · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's 129.2F if you're interested.

    1. Re:That's 129.2F if you're interested. by judoguy · · Score: 5, Funny

      But it's dry heat.

      --
      Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
    2. Re:That's 129.2F if you're interested. by jfbilodeau · · Score: 5, Informative

      I hope you realize that 129.2F means absolutely nothing to the majority of the world. ;)

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      Goodbye Slashdot. You've changed.
    3. Re: That's 129.2F if you're interested. by saloomy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It depends on the wind. No, seriously. I'm from Kuwait and grew up there through high school. If the wind comes in from the west to east, the air coming from KSA or Iraq is dry. If it blows east to west, it can be very humid. I can also tell you that Kuwait has some of the most capable infrastructure to deal with that kind of weather. Your parking structures in most malls are air conditioned, and they have malls that are converted city streets with glass and construction fabric making them indoor so they can be air conditioned. People also acclimate pretty well over there. When I return for a visit from SoCal, it's incredible how much better some of my cousins can handle the heat better than I can. That wasn't the case when I lived there. I remember reading about it taking a few weeks for your blood to become thinner and more capillaries to grow in your skin which helps you cool off.

  2. Re:You made the bed. Now sleep in it. by CaptainLard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And people wonder why we don't believe Global Warming.

    I don't wonder. I see it as one of the human brain's greatest weaknesses. More and more research shows that once people pick a side, they are highly likely to dig in and contrary evidence actually reinforces their incorrect position. Perhaps this served some evolutionary purpose (you only need to learn fire is hot once) but in today's world where humans have the capability to drastically alter the environment we need to listen to the fucking facts.

    Lead is bad for the brain even if the lead industry spends 50 years and $millions trying to prove otherwise. Smoking causes cancer even if the cigarette industry spends 50 years and $millions trying to prove otherwise. The average global temperature is rising due to human emissions of a known greenhouse gas into the atmosphere at a rate that does indeed match most models even if the fossil fuel industry spends 50 years and $millions trying to prove otherwise. Not exactly sure what industry is against vaccinations (maybe religion) but apparently you might not even need a shadowy group to cause trouble (see recent measles outbreaks).

    For an especially hilarious example, see the John Oliver clip where newt ginrich repeatedly basically says "my feelings are more important than your facts for making policy". If humanity as a whole can evolve past that bullshit maybe we have a shot at colonizing space...or at least finding out if the physics of the universe allow it. If not, then I guess we don't deserve to and we'll get wiped out and the earth will try again in a few hundred million years.

    Anyway, hopefully the deniers are right cause if not, we're fucked.