Heatwaves Persist in West Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, and Other Regions

Over the past week, persistent high temperatures exceeding 38°C have been observed in West Asia, southern Central Asia, western South Europe, North Africa, Pakistan, southeastern India, central and southern Japan, southwestern United States, and northern Mexico. Notably, maximum temperatures exceeded 42°C in parts of West Asia, southern Central Asia, most of North Africa, southern Pakistan, and the southwestern United States, with localized areas surpassing 45°C. Maximum temperatures in southwestern Iran and eastern Iraq locally exceeded 50°C (Figure 1).

Over the next week, persistent influence from the subtropical high (Figure 2) is expected to maintain the heatwaves across most of West Asia, southern Central Asia, most of North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Pakistan, the southwestern United States, and northern Mexico. Maximum temperatures in most of these regions will range between 38 and 40°C, with some areas exceeding 42°C. Specifically, localized temperatures could reach above 45°C in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, western and southern Iran, the southwestern United States, western Algeria, and northern Mauritania (Figure 3).

Figure 1 Observed Maximum Temperatures from July 28 to August 4, 2025 (Unit: °C, Dots Indicate Maximum Temperatures ≥ 38°C)

Figure 2 Average (Contours) and Anomalies (Shaded) of 500 hPa Geopotential Height from August 6 to 12, 2025

Figure 3 Forecast of Maximum Temperatures from August 6 to 12, 2025 (Unit: °C)

Author: Li Ming                                  Reviewer: Guan Yue 

English reviewer:Wang Yi                                                                       Issue approver:Dai Kan