Libya is experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching exceptional levels across several regions and one weather station recording the highest temperature since it began operating.
The Vision Foundation for Space Sciences and Its Applications announced that its recently installed weather station in Al-Jmail recorded 48.2°C at 3:00 p.m., marking the highest temperature ever registered at the station.
The reading surpassed the station’s previous record by 0.2°C and was the highest temperature recorded during the current heatwave among nearly 70 weather stations operating under the foundation’s Muzn Project across Libya.
The latest reading highlights the severity of the heatwave affecting large parts of the country, with temperatures climbing well above seasonal averages during peak afternoon hours.
Earlier measurements taken at 1:30 p.m. also showed exceptionally high temperatures in several Libyan cities. Al-Jmail recorded 45.9°C, while Tiji reached 45.7°C.
Several other cities registered temperatures of 44.6°C, including Bani Walid, Msallata, Al-Aziziyah, and Jalu. Meanwhile, Bir Al-Ghanam and Abu Surra each recorded 44.4°C, illustrating the broad geographical extent of the heatwave.
The Vision Foundation said the data collected through the Muzn Project demonstrates the importance of expanding Libya’s meteorological monitoring network, which provides real-time weather observations from stations distributed across the country. The network helps improve the monitoring of extreme weather events and supports more accurate climate analysis.
The latest heatwave comes as Libya enters the peak of the summer season, when temperatures typically rise sharply, particularly in inland and desert areas. However, the current readings rank among the highest recorded this season and indicate unusually intense conditions affecting multiple regions simultaneously.
Meteorologists expect high temperatures to persist in the coming days, with several areas likely to remain under severe heat conditions. Residents are generally advised to limit outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, stay hydrated, and take appropriate precautions to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.
