Archive for the ‘World's Hottest Cities’ Category

The World’s 10 Hottest Major Cities

Saturday, June 5th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Hot weather is the enemy of the productive. What could have been a great day of work outdoors turns into an all-out fight to avoid sunlight. We sprint indoors, crank the air conditioning up to patently dangerous levels, and do everything possible to ensure that the endless outdoor heat doesn’t manage to reach the living room.

Still, there are places on earth where extreme heat isn’t just a one-off occurrence, but a regular event. From tropical megacities to arid desert civilizations, we’re tracked down ten major cities that receive extreme heat on a regular basis. If you’re not a fan of the sun, note these ten destinations down on your ‘do-not-visit’ travel list.

1. Jazan City, Saudi Arabia

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cisco_pics/4309471519/

Jazan City is a port on Saudi Arabai’s Red Sea coast, and unlike many of the other cities we’ve featured, it’s populated by less than 2 million people. The ultra-hot city may not boast the most ridiculous summer temperatures, but its year-round heat makes it one of the most consistently warm in the world.

2. Bangkok, Thailand

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/300341306/

While Bangkok doesn’t experience the world’s most extreme summer temperatures, it is the world’s hottest city when it comes to year-round intense heat. Temperatures in the Thai capital routinely rise above 40C during the day, with night-time temperatures hovering at similar levels.

Bangkok’s notorious smog is also a problem for those with heat aversion. The megacity’s well-known air pollution traps hot air within the city center, causing daytime humidity and heat that catches many tourists off guard.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marionzetta/2981835885/

Situated in the middle of Nevada’s arid desert, Las Vegas experiences temperature extremes like no other US city. Daytime summer temperatures often reach 40°C and occasionally even higher, with the crisp desert heat proving a problem for unprepared tourists and week-long bender participants.

While not the hottest city in North America, Las Vegas is located very close to the hottest location in the entire Western Hemisphere: California’s Death Valley. In 1911, temperature gauges at the park recorded a daytime high of 134°F (56.7C) – just one degree short of the world record.

4. Hong Kong, China

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikemcd/2141076928/

Hong Kong isn’t the world’s hottest city. As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t even break the top ten in a list of the world’s hottest points. However, when combined with the city’s legendary humidity, this sauna-style tropical city is one of the world’s most extreme and uncomfortable, especially during its ultra-moist wet season.

Just how bad is it? Bad enough for Hong Kong’s residents to devise specific paths to every possible destination, each of which is designed to follow through as many air conditioned shopping malls as possible. While daytime temperatures tend to fall around 30°C, this ultra-humid Chinese megacity feels more like a steam room than an international metropolis.

5. Mexicali, Mexico

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/omaromar/3086417086/

Baja California is home to some truly extreme temperatures, and Mexicali is the city at the center of it all. This metropolis of over one million residents hits 40°C on many summer days, with ultra-hot periods boosting temperatures well above what most residents would consider comfortable.

Due to its inland desert-style location, Mexicali attracts some of the hottest temperatures recorded in Baja California. While Los Angeles, San Diego, and other major population centers along North America’s west coast enjoy year-round warmth, Mexicali’s slight inland placement keeps it free of the Pacific Ocean’s regulated temperature.

6. Melbourne, Australia

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderungen/311466832/

Melbourne is a slight climate anomaly, largely due to its unusual placement between Australia’s cool Southern Ocean coast and the country’s world famous outback areas. While Melbourne doesn’t experience the year-round heat of Darwin, Singapore, or Bangkok, it does experience some summer temperatures that would make even the most hardened outback resident blush.

For example, the February 2009 heatwave saw Melbourne’s temperature exceed 46.4°C – an Australian state capital record. Most months don’t result in a scramble for the air conditioners, as Melbourne’s year-round average temperature is just 19.8°C – a mere 68°F.

7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjfncs27/1918276719/

Kuala Lumpur is known for its amazing skyline, huge dining variety, great shopping, and multi-cultural nature. Unfortunately, many visitors remember it for only one thing: the sweltering year-round heat and humidity. Thanks to Kuala Lumpur’s placement almost directly on the equator, the city experiences some of the most intense heat and humidity that Earth has to offer.

While maximum temperatures have never exceeded 37°C, Kuala Lumpur’s 30°C median temperature says a lot about the city. If you’re planning a trip to Malaysia’s large and interesting capital, it might be best to carry a little less clothing than you planned for.

8. Phoenix, Arizona

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7202153@N03/1384321407/

Phoenix is the United States’ fifth largest city, and by far its hottest, according to information put out by the US Weather Channel. Situated on the edge of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, temperatures in the city exceed 40°C during the summer, with daytime heat driving many of the city’s residents out of the sun and into their air conditioned homes and offices.

9. Athens, Greece

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/135116633/

While Athens was once known for its intense pollution, it’s emerged as a European leader in another category: extreme heat. The Greek capital experiences summertime temperatures in excess of 40°C, and has laid claim to Europe’s all-time temperature record with a July recording of 48°C.

Adding to the problem is the city’s smog. While improved from its 1970s peak, Athens is still shrouded in grey mist on occasion, reducing the city’s ability to moderate temperatures effectively.

10. Cairo, Egypt

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyjd/73638843/

Situated on the banks of the famous Nile River, Cairo is the largest city in Africa and one of the hottest major cities in the world. Due to its placement alongside a major river, Cairo receives both the heat of the major Arabian deserts and the humidity of the Nile River Delta. That means a combination of intense desert heat, often in excess of 40°C, and extreme humidity is on the cards for Cairo’s summertime residents.

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Toronto Residents Angered by Lack of Air Conditioning

Friday, June 4th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Residents of WoodGreen community apartments – a housing project for people with HIV/AIDS in Toronto – are up in arms about the lack of sufficient air conditioning. The building, designed as a supportive housing area, lacks air conditioning in many rooms, areas that are home to hundreds of sick and unwell residents.

Temperatures in the housing units have exceeded 30ºC, leaving many residents unable to focus on tasks or live comfortably. Building staff have provided two cooled rooms in the lower floors, but many people are unable to access the shared cool areas due to disabilities or discomfort.

It’s certainly not the first public area in Toronto to lack adequate air conditioning. Many of the city’s high schools are left without air conditioning, deemed an unnecessary expense in Toronto’s harsh winter and a needless addition for the summer. With sweltering daytime temperatures, parents of students have expressed disbelief at the city’s refusal to install air conditioning systems.

For residents, portable air conditioning systems are a potential option. However, with many of WoodGreen’s residents lacking a source of income and reliant on building management, it remains unknown whether full access to cooled air will ever be available.

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Indian Heat Wave: Temperatures Crack 50ºC in Northern Cities

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

India is known for its geographical diversity and unique culture, but it’s another subcontinental characteristic that’s gaining attention this month: the country’s truly staggering heat. A heat wave has rocked parts of India for the last month, causing over one hundred deaths and a lengthy list of infrastructure issues. Baha'i House of Worship - New Delhi, India by Adib Roy.

News stations have released various different heat-related death counts, putting the current figure between 120 and 140 people. Many north Indian homes lack air conditioning, leaving residents with few methods of completely sheltering themselves from the immense heat and seasonal humidity.

Temperatures have risen in the region for two years now, with 2009’s summer yielding some of the hottest temperatures on record. With recorded temperatures of over 49ºC, the current heat wave could go down in history as India’s warmest and most economically devastating, affecting thousands of farmers and potentially costing the warmest regions millions of dollars in lost agricultural income.

Residents of New Delhi, the country’s capital and India’s largest northern city have taken a unique approach to fighting the heat. Instead of relying on poor home cooling systems, locals have taken ‘long-distance’ continual rides on the city’s air conditioned subway system or invested in hand-fans and other portable air conditioning solutions.

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Manila Residents Use ‘Alternative’ Air Conditioning Systems

Friday, May 21st, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Manila is one of the world’s hottest cities – a bustling metropolis with a population of over ten million, situated well within the tropical band. It’s also one of the world’s poorest – an urban area where the difference between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ is bigger than in any other part of East Asia. Manila Skyline by twinkletuason.

This vast income divide and immense heat leaves almost 70 percent of the city’s population without access to air conditioning, despite its immense year-round heat. With the cost of electricity and ongoing air conditioning maintenance, it’s no wonder that many Filipinos have opted not to use the technology; average usage and repair costs would make up almost an entire three month salary annually.

But portable air conditioning units are being embraced by Filipinos, largely due to their simple operation and inexpensive running costs. As the systems can be placed anywhere in the home, users needn’t worry about installation costs of air filtering. The air coolers operate using a combination of water and ice, costing the average resident less than £3 weekly.

It’s a welcome addition to a city where many residents have taken to sleeping through the heat, aiming to avoid lost productivity and discomfort. While air conditioning systems are present in the city’s more affluent areas, alternative technologies and low-cost air coolers are quickly becoming Manila’s most popular option for cool, clean air.

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6 Devastating Heat Waves and Bizarre Weather Events (Part Two)

Thursday, April 29th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

<<< Part One

4. The 1995 Chicago City Heat Wave

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2wpkxhw

Chicago wasn’t the most desirable city in the mid-1990s. With its reputation damaged by crime and the economy still recovering from the early 1990s recession, the Windy City was far from ideal for most American residents. In mid-July, daytime temperatures soared from their relatively warm standard levels of 25ºC to over 40ºC, causing major problems for the city’s infrastructure and residents.

The problems were compounded by Chicago’s crime climate at the time. Residents without air conditioning refused to open their windows for fear of robberies and crime, while those with air conditioning were concerned about their power bill increasing. A total of 700 people were left dead or injured as a result of the heat wave – one of the worst natural events in recent US history.

5. The 2007 Asia-Wide Hot Cloud

Source: http://tinyurl.com/367mvz9

Hearing that India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are warm is no surprise – their temperatures regularly exceed 35ºC, and residents treat is with little regard or surprise. However, hearing that temperatures have skyrocketed throughout Russiea the People’s Republic of China, and Korea would come as a shock to most, since those countries aren’t particularly well-known for their extreme heat.

Nevertheless, a large pocket of warm air crossed the Asian continent in 2007. Covering everything from New Delhi to Beijing, the huge burst of heat caused entire companies to shut down their operation and even the explosion of a fireworks factory in China’s capital, Beijing. While Southeast Asia escaped untouched by the heat wave, we can’t help but think residents wouldn’t have noticed – temperatures throughout the region tend to hover around 35ºC year-round.

6. Argentina’s Warmest Winter, 2009

Source: http://tinyurl.com/3ajjn7f

South America has a reputation as the world’s wildest and most exotic continent. While Argentina tends to excel in the more historic and traditional aspects of Latin culture, the giant country does offer a temperature that’s cause for envy. With year-round mediterranean weather in the capital and lush mountain scenery in the country’s souther regions, Argentina could be one of the world’s most varied climate zones.

However, its temperatures throughout winter 2009 were just one thing: consistently warm. Tanning fans will have enjoyed the boost in temperature, but many Buenos Aires residents objected to the extreme heat, opting to open windows or pump out cool air conditioned air to stay comfortable. The city rarely experiences any heat during winter, but 2009 saw highs of over 34ºC.

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6 Devastating Heat Waves and Bizarre Weather Events (Part One)

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Ever wake up, get dressed, and step out the door to be greeted with a wave of ultra-hot air? Whether you’re located in the tropics or the subarctic, there’s little doubt you’ve felt that burst of warm air as you stepped outside of your home, mostly during the middle of summer. For some cities, it’s a near-blanket of tropical humidity and misty – a high-30s heat wave that forces you inside with the air conditioning cranked up.

For other cities, it’s a dry, arid heat – the type of temperature that makes concentration impossible and physical exertion a dream. Whether you fight it with a cool drink or a day huddled in front of the air conditioner is anyone’s guess – these days aren’t comfortable, and there’s no doubt about it.

We’ve found six truly devastating heat waves and hot weather events, each located in a different part of the world. From Chicago to Shanghai; Melbourne to Buenos Aires, these six heat waves brought sudden heat, devastating commercial effects, and potentially lethal disruption to the globe. Fans of a good old air conditioning service best close their eyes, but tanning gurus and hot weather fanatics will love these extreme heat waves.

1. The 2003 French Heat Wave

Source: http://tinyurl.com/39oezhb

France’s 2003 heat wave was one of the most economically and socially devastating events in recent history. With almost the entire European continent affected by record temperatures and severe drought, a number of crop failures and agricultural setbacks pushed South and Central Europe’s countries into a spin.

However, few countries were hurt more than France. With over 30,000 deaths throughout Europe and multi-billion dollar financial damage, the heat wave’s epicenter was located directly above France’s central region. Temperatures were dangerously high from Paris all the way to Marseilles, with some cities experiencing heat well above 40ºC – a major change from France’s relatively temperate central conditions.

2. The Great Depression ‘Dust Bowl’ Years

Source: http://tinyurl.com/3ys4anr

The 1930s weren’t a great time to be American. There was the Great Depression – a sever economic downturn in the wake of some short-sighted financial decisions. There was also the ultra-cold winter of 1935 – one of the coldest and most disruptive on record. Finally, there was the the North American heat wave – one of the most extreme climate events in history, and a major source of health and financial woes at one of the United States’ worst points.

Piece it all together and you’re left with a fairly nasty decade. Unfortunately, the 1930s weren’t the best decade to experience a heat wave – air conditioning had yet to be invented, and due to the ongoing depression, most public buildings had severely reduced service and operating budgets. Besides sweating it out 24/7, most of the United States’ population were struggling to piece things together financially.

3. Southeast Australia’s Six-Day Fire and Sun Wave

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2wqyjwg

Australia’s international reputation may paint it as the ‘warm’ continent, but in reality its southern corners can see some pretty extreme cool points during the year. From Melbourne to Adelaide; Hobart to ACT, Australia’s southern points experience a cool winter and relatively Spartan summer temperatures, with daytime temperatures rarely exceeding 30ºC.

It’s amazing then, that the region’s temperatures saw such a surge in early 2009. Record high temperatures – well above 40ºC in some cities, and over 46ºC in Melbourne – saw the giant country’s southern areas turn into an arid desert overnight. Following severe fires in the area surrounding Melbourne, the state of Victoria was put under alert – residents sat inside their houses watching the sky fill with drifting smoke.

>>> Part Two

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Rio De Janeiro Heat Wave Causes Over 30 Deaths, Slows Business

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

While Brazil’s capital city certainly isn’t renowned for cool temperatures, few residents expected summer heat levels to reach almost 40°C. Average high temperatures throughout March and April tend to hover around 32°C, but this year’s heat wave has seen daytime temperatures boosted to as much as 39.7°C. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nov.07 by kaysha.

While Rio’s more wealthy residents can afford to sit inside with their air conditioning service, many of the city’s workers have been forced to continue in the deadly heat. Fatigue has been quite common amongst labourers and outdoor employees, with many shops and restaurants forced to close due to the daytime heat.

Over 30 people have died as a result of the heatwave, primarily ill and elderly resident of Rio’s southern districts. Heat throughout southern Brazil has been particularly high since mid-March, although the sudden surge in temperatures has been somewhat unexpected. With Rio’s world famous carnival due to begin soon, many residents are praying for an end to the extreme heat.

Rio’s record temperature is 39.7°C – at an international level, not a particularly hot temperature. However, the city’s humidity and direct sunlight has resulted in record isolated temperatures, with certain areas reaching well above 40°C.

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