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A searing heat wave has swept across continents this week, driving temperatures to record levels from Türkiye and Europe to Southeast Asia and the United States. Climate and meteorological agencies warned that the extreme heat, which has persisted since early June, is expected to continue in the coming days.
According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency, the Mediterranean basin and large parts of Europe have been particularly affected, with Türkiye recording its highest temperatures so far this year.
In Türkiye, unusually high temperatures were reported on Thursday, ranging from 10.8 to 21.6 degrees Fahrenheit above seasonal norms. The eastern town of Silopi reached an unprecedented 122.9°F, marking one of the highest ever recorded in the country.
Other southeastern towns followed closely, with Kiziltepe registering 121.3°F, Cizre 120.9°F, and Nusaybin 120.7°F. In total, six weather stations across Türkiye reported temperatures exceeding 120.2°F.
Southern Europe has also seen dramatic rises in temperature. In Greece, the Skala region on the Peloponnese Peninsula hit 114.8°F, while the island town of Lindos on Rhodes recorded 110.5°F. Albania’s coastal city of Vlore reported 108.3°F, and Sarajevo reached 102.2°F.
Scandinavian countries saw a rare stretch of prolonged heat. Finland experienced daytime temperatures above 86°F for 14 consecutive days—the longest period since national records began in 1961. In Sweden, some areas saw daytime highs of 86°F and overnight lows of 73.4°F.
Across Southeast Asia, heat continued to impact daily life. In southern Thailand’s Chawang region, the mercury reached 97.7°F, while Surigao in the southern Philippines recorded 97.2°F. Indonesia’s Palu reported 98.6°F.
Japan’s northern city of Otaru registered 93.2°F, while other parts of the country routinely exceeded 86°F. High temperatures were also recorded across Malaysia.
In the Middle East, forecasts suggested that extreme temperatures would persist through the weekend. Baghdad was expected to hit 120.2°F, while other countries in the region—including Egypt, Oman, Türkiye, and Greece—faced continued heat risks.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that a high-pressure system would sustain dangerous heat conditions in several parts of the country.
Beyond land, sea temperatures across the Mediterranean have also surged. According to Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist at the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the surface temperature of the Aegean Sea was 5.4°F above the 1992–2020 average as of July 22.
Emerton stated that from July 20 to 26, the extent and intensity of the marine heatwave in the Eastern Mediterranean increased, with conditions in the northwestern Aegean reaching moderate to strong marine heatwave levels.
Globally, Copernicus data showed the average surface temperature as of July 22 was 61.95°F—approximately 0.68°F above the 1992–2020 average.
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