Heat crisis: Persian Gulf faces life-threatening temperatures, and it will only get worse

The Persian Gulf is used to extreme heat and humidity, but it's becoming more common thanks to climate change.

In a stark reminder of the escalating climate crisis, the Persian Gulf region experienced a severe heat wave this month, with temperatures and humidity levels reaching nearly intolerable conditions. On July 7, 2024, the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature hit a sweltering 149 degrees Fahrenheit (63.3 degrees Celsius) at Qeshm Dayrestan International Airport, Iran, located on an island in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. July 20 brought the same reading to the Persian Gulf International Airport in Asaluyeh, Iran.

Temperature doesn't tell the whole story

"The temperature and other indices do not tell the whole story of how weather conditions make us feel," said Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather Founder & Executive Chairman and co-inventor of the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature. "Other weather variables in addition to temperature such as sunlight, humidity, wind, precipitation and a multitude of other factors can impact our comfort or discomfort outside and may even cause harm or illness," Myers added.

What causes the extreme conditions in the Persian Gulf?

Amid the hottest deserts on Earth, the Persian Gulf is the hottest body of water in the world. Heat, ample sunshine and humidity combine to create extreme conditions. Dew points at coastal stations can rise into the 90s, and in the United States, dew points above 70 are considered uncomfortable.

World ocean temperature records are not maintained, but a research paper studying the years 2016 to 2020 found a maximum sea-surface temperature of 99.7 degrees F (37.6 C) in the middle of Kuwait Bay, which may be a world record.

What's the forecast?

Jason Nicholls, AccuWeather Lead International Forecaster, says that July and August are the hottest months of the year across the region, and there will be no reprieve until autumn.

"Temperatures, which have been higher than historical average, will be closer to average readings [this] week, but extreme heat could build again later next week," Nicholls explained, saying high pressure will build over Iran the week of Aug. 5. "RealFeel temperatures around Dubai should be in the lower to middle 110s this week then can be around 120 F later next week. Even at night, it will be hot."

How do people in Dubai deal with the heat?

The UAE doesn't allow outside work between 12:30 and 3 p.m., the Washington Post reports. Air conditioning is deployed nearly everywhere in Dubai; stores without A/C won't open.

The city has found unique ways to deal with the heat and humidity. Delivery companies routinely transport large blocks of ice to pools. Ice baths are a popular activity on the shore. Indoor ski arenas, chilled theatres, public cooling centers and snowy summer camps are also available.

What is climate change doing to this extreme heat?

"Climate change is clearly having a significant impact on the Persian Gulf region," AccuWeather Climate Expert Brett Anderson said. "We are seeing more days and locations surpassing the 122-degree-Fahrenheit (50-degree-Celsius) mark, which is very extreme and dangerous, even in this typically hot region."

This trend of increasing frequency of this type of heat during the summer months is likely to continue for decades to come as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contribute to warming. The greenhouse effect is the process through which heat is trapped near Earth's surface by greenhouse gases. "Imagine these gases as a cozy blanket enveloping our planet, helping to maintain a warmer temperature than it would have otherwise," NASA noted.

"We know that global warming will be highly local, and the warming will be unevenly distributed," Myers said. "Some places on the planet will see an even higher increase in temperatures than the global average."

"Adding in humidity and other factors," Anderson continued, "AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the cities around the Persian Gulf could exceed 131 F (55 C) on those extremely hot days, which is like spending an afternoon on the hottest day of the year in Death Valley, California."

At these levels of intense heat, there is a very high danger of dehydration, heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Outdoor activity is dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

More heat means expanded droughts with extreme flooding events

The impact of seeing more extreme heat will include a higher frequency of long-term droughts and even an expansion of deserts. This will also mean that dust and sand storms will likely become more prevalent, Anderson explained.

Anderson added that when rain does fall, it may mean higher rainfall rates. Higher rainfall rates combined with dry ground, which does not absorb the water as much, could lead to extreme flooding, such as the 2024 Dubai flood.

This increase in extreme heat may also lead to more wind, which, in addition to the sand storms, can result in a rapid spread of wildfires in areas covered with dried-out vegetation. This threat could also expand into densely populated villages with homes made of combustible material.