The summer heatwave begins today, heralding 40 days of intense heat in several Arab countries.

Arab Weather - The Arabian Peninsula will enter the summer season of Al-Murabba’aniyah tomorrow, Wednesday, which is considered the actual climatic beginning of summer, and extends for 40 days, with a gradual rise in temperatures and an increase in the length of daylight hours at the expense of the night, according to what was stated by the meteorologist Dr. Khaled Saleh Al-Zaaq.

With the arrival of this season, the hot summer weather begins to dominate the region as it is the first of the three summer seasons, which include: the forty-day period of summer, the peak of summer, and the peak of summer, where the features of actual summer begin to appear, while the peak of extreme heat is not recorded during the forty-day period, but is concentrated later in the seasons of the peak and the peak of summer, where the highest temperatures are recorded during the year.

Temperatures approach or exceed 50 degrees Celsius in several Arab countries.

With the start of the summer heatwave, the thermal dome begins to affect the atmosphere of the Arabian Peninsula, leading to a noticeable rise in temperatures, which may approach 48 and sometimes exceed 50 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, according to climate estimates circulating in the region.

According to astronomical calculations, the season this year begins with the rising of the Pleiades star cluster on June 3, and continues until about July 12, passing through three main star clusters: Pleiades, Aldebaran, and Al-Haq’ah, with approximately 13 days for each star cluster.

During the Pleiades period, the atmosphere tends to gradually increase in temperatures, with a decrease in the chances of rainfall and an acceleration of the drying of vegetation cover, while the Aldebaran period witnesses an increase in the influence of hot air masses and a rise in temperatures during daylight hours, in addition to the activity of the Simoom winds in some areas.

As for the Al-Haqa’a period, which is the last of the Al-Murabba’aniyah periods, it coincides with the peak of the influence of the hot air masses, the summer solstice, and the sun’s perpendicularity to the Tropic of Cancer. This period is known locally as “the heat of departure,” when temperatures and the perceived temperature reach their highest levels, especially with calm winds and high humidity.

This period is one of the most influential seasons of the year on daily activities, which calls for taking precautions during peak heat hours and avoiding direct exposure to sunlight for long periods.