Brutal +48.7°C in Algeria and +47.6°C in Tunisia

North Africa is enduring an extraordinary wave of extreme heat, with brutal temperatures recorded on July 21, 2025, across Algeria and Tunisia. This latest surge adds to a growing list of historic climate extremes around the globe during what is becoming one of the hottest Julys on record.

In Algeria, the Saharan cities of Adrar and In Salah recorded scorching highs of +48.7°C and +48.4°C, respectively. These locations are no strangers to intense summer heat, but these values are near or even above historic benchmarks for July. The temperatures were measured by WMO-standard synoptic stations, and confirm just how severe the ongoing heatwave has become in the heart of the Sahara Desert.

Not far behind, Kairouan in Tunisia also recorded an exceptional +47.6°C — one of the highest temperatures ever measured in the country in July. This city, steeped in history and located inland away from coastal moderation, frequently gets hot during summer, but this level of heat is truly dangerous and potentially record-threatening.

These temperatures are part of a broader heat dome pattern dominating much of North Africa, with intense solar radiation, clear skies, and dry continental air combining to generate extreme heat accumulation. In many cases, overnight temperatures remain elevated, offering little relief and increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, especially in vulnerable communities.

With no significant cooling trend forecast, the region may continue to face extreme fire danger, crop stress, power outages, and public health risks in the days ahead. The climatological ceiling continues to be tested across the globe — and North Africa’s current heatwave is one of its most striking symptoms.