High heat index figures have been experienced in both Dubai and Doha in recent days and brought about by intense heat and high humidity in the Persian Gulf region.
On 17 July, Dubai’s ‘feels like’ temperature soared to an astonishing 62°C at 3:00 PM, approaching the estimated threshold of human heat tolerance. This placed the heat index firmly in the very high to extreme risk category, where extended exposure can become life-threatening.
Four days later, a heat index figure of 60°C was recorded at Dubai international Airport brought about by temperatures around 44-45°C and humidity of around 45%.
Also very notable is the heat index of 56°C recorded in Doha at 01.00, indicating the extreme conditions that exist both day and night in the region.
At night, air temperatures drop from 40°C plus as solar radiation ceases, reducing the air’s capacity to hold moisture. This causes relative humidity to rise,(60-80%) as the same amount of water vapor results in a higher percentage relative to the cooler air’s saturation point.
The warm waters of the Persian Gulf currently around 35°C continuously release water vapor into the atmosphere. At night, with less wind mixing and cooler land temperatures, this moisture accumulates in the lower atmosphere, raising humidity levels.
Researchers have identified the Persian Gulf as one of the regions most likely to regularly exceed life-threatening heat thresholds over the next 30 to 50 years. Dubai was recently ranked as the city with the most dangerous summer heat in the world, with dangerous heat on 89 percent of summer days. Doha, came second!
