Mohamed Ali Fahim, Chairman of the Climate Information Center at the Agricultural Research Center, has issued an urgent warning regarding an impending, severe heatwave set to impact Egypt.
Described as the “strongest on record” for the current spring season, the country is bracing for unprecedented record-breaking temperatures. This spike is driven by a powerful high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, accompanied by descending air currents that intensely heat the lower atmosphere, coinciding with intense solar radiation activity.
Fahim clarified via his official Facebook page that the peak of this temperature surge begins on Sunday, across most parts of the country, and will persist through Wednesday in the southern regions. He noted that maximum temperatures are projected to breach the forty-two degrees Celsius mark in Greater Cairo and the Delta region, while potentially soaring to forty-five degrees Celsius or higher in parts of Upper Egypt.
The Climate Information Center chief added that the danger is not confined solely to ambient temperatures, but extends to a massive surge in thermal energy resulting from the sheer intensity of the solar radiation, which has reached exceptionally high levels. This phenomenon carries direct negative implications for humans, animals, and crops alike.
Fahim pointed out that elevated nighttime temperatures—ranging between twenty-five and thirty degrees Celsius—will accelerate dark respiration rates within plants. This metabolic shift increases tissue breakdown and severely hinders fruit sizing and fruit set development. This poses a particular threat to summer crops currently undergoing critical growth phases such as flowering, fertilization, and early fruit setting.
