+47.2°C in Turkmenistan, 46.3°C in Uzbekistan, 44.5 in Tajikistan and 44.1°C in Kazakhstan, Central-Asian Heatwaves are Returning
Marek Kučera 
Central Asia is once again in the grip of a brutal and intensifying heatwave, with Koytendag, Turkmenistan, recording a staggering +47.2°C — one of the highest temperatures of 2025 so far and a clear sign that the region’s climate crisis is worsening. This scorching temperature, reported near the Afghan border, highlights how the former USSR republics and adjacent regions are becoming epicenters of extreme summer heat.
Heatwave Crisis in the Heart of Asia
The heatwave currently baking Central Asia has affected large swaths of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and southern Kazakhstan, with daytime highs consistently above 42–45°C, and nighttime lows remaining dangerously warm, limiting recovery and increasing health risks.
The +47.2°C in Koytendag is one of the highest verified temperatures in Turkmenistan’s recorded history, and is particularly alarming given that the region regularly faces water scarcity and energy stress during summer months.
Buzaubaj, Uzbekistan recorded a blistering 46.3°C, marking one of the highest temperatures ever officially measured in the country.
In Kazakhstan, Kaukey reached 44.1°C, tying or surpassing previous national summer highs and pushing the limits of its typically continental climate.
Parkhar, Tajikistan experienced an unprecedented 44.5°C, setting a new all-time record high for the area, and highlighting the increasingly extreme conditions affecting the mountainous and valley regions alike.
Former USSR: Another Climate Hotspot
This latest heatwave is part of a disturbing trend: Former Soviet republics, especially in Central Asia and the Caucasus, are consistently among the hottest areas outside the Middle East each summer. This follows:
- Multiple 45–47°C readings in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in recent years
- Rapidly declining snowpack and glacial retreat in the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains
- Increased desertification and declining river flows in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins
These changes are pushing already fragile ecosystems and agricultural systems toward collapse, especially in areas dependent on glacial melt and irrigation.
An Ongoing and Growing Emergency
This heatwave is expected to continue for several more days, possibly intensifying or expanding into neighboring countries including Iran, Pakistan, and western China. Authorities across Central Asia are warning of:
- Increased risk of wildfires
- Power outages due to overloaded grids
- Crop losses in already stressed farmlands
- Health emergencies due to dehydration and heatstroke
Illustration picture: https://www.opulentroutes.com/services/experiences-in-turkmenistan/
