Libya issues heat warning as temperatures climb to 45 degrees Celsius

Libya’s National Meteorological Centre on Saturday warned of a major heat wave likely to affect the west and the south of the country between Monday and Wednesday, local media EANLibya reports.

A hot air mass is currently present over the north-west and southern parts of the country, bringing temperatures to about 45 degrees Celsius in the regions most at risk, said the Centre in a new forecast.

The regions threatened are Ras Jedir to Sirte, as well as the areas including the Jafara Plain and Nafusa Mountains, while parts of central and southern Libya, like Jufra, Sabha, Ghat and Ghadames and in Hamada, could reach up to 44 degrees.

The centre stressed that temperatures in these western regions would continue their rise during the week until the air mass fades away. Winds are expected to change from weak to moderate while increasing in certain regions from day to day.

On Monday, the city of Tripoli is forecast to reach 39 degrees Celsius, while Ghat has a temperature expected to reach up to 40 degrees.

The warning authorities called on residents in certain areas of Libya’s west and south regions, the hottest parts of the country, to pay attention to weather reports while this period of extreme heat lasts.