The heatwave has officially begun... many days of hot, sweltering weather and stifling humidity in the Arabian Peninsula.

Arab Weather - Starting Friday, July 16, the Arabian Peninsula entered one of the hottest and most exhausting periods of the year, a period known as "Jamrat Al-Qayz," which lasts for 39 days and witnesses peak temperatures and humidity.

What is a heat stroke?

"Jamrat Al-Qayz" is a term used to describe the period from July 16 to August 24. This period is characterized by record-breaking temperatures and high humidity, making the weather stifling and exhausting.

According to astronomy and meteorology researcher Ibrahim Al Jarwan, this period is considered one of the harshest parts of summer in the Gulf region, as the country experiences harsh and exhausting weather conditions known as "Jamarat Al Qayz," which continue until the rising of the Canopus star on August 24, signaling the beginning of a break in the intense heat.

The stages of summer as defined by the Arabs

The Arabs divided the summer season into time periods linked to the rising of specific stars in the sky, as follows:

• June 7: Pleiades rise – beginning of summer
• June 20: Aldebaran rises – the north winds known as “Al-Bawarih” are active.
• July 3: The rising of the Haq’ah – the beginning of the intense heat
• July 16: Tul' al-Hana'ah - the peak of the heat, known as "Jamrat al-Qayz"
• July 29: Rising of the Mirzam – the beginning of the flow of high humidity and calm winds
• August 11: The Rise of the Nathra - Stifling and exhausting atmosphere known as "Al-Wa'ka"

During this period, temperatures may reach 50 degrees Celsius in some areas, and the atmosphere becomes saturated with humidity, which increases feelings of stress and fatigue.

When will the heat stop?

The summer actually begins with the rising of the Canopus star at dawn on August 24. The star can be seen on the southeastern horizon about half an hour before sunrise. Its rising is an astronomical sign of the gradual decline in temperature and the end of the summer season.

According to Al Jarwan, the first weeks of Suhail's rising are known as the "Safri Season," which extends until approximately mid-October, after which the Wasm period begins, one of the best times of the year for rainfall and the growth of wild plants.