Iran's average temperature was 1.3 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average for the last 10 months since the beginning of the current water year (Sep. 23, 2017), National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center at Iran Meteorological Organization announced.
The arid and semi-arid land, which was already parched thanks to the growing drought, is now scorching in the summer's uncomfortably hot weather, with no region spared.
According to the figures, all provinces experienced a temperature rise during the 10 months in question. However, the provinces of West Azarbaijan and Zanjan have registered the greatest rises respectively with 2.2° C and 2° C increases, ISNA quoted Sadeq Ziaian, the center's head, as saying.
"People in the capital have experienced a rise of 1.5° C in temperature during the last 10 months, compared to the long-term average," Ziaian said.
Summer Heat
As the figures suggest, the first month of the summer (June 22-July 22) has had the greatest contribution to the total increase in the average temperature.
The whole country heated up by 1.2° C last month alone, compared to the long-term average temperature for the period.
During the month, the biggest climbs were recorded in the provinces of Golestan and Alborz by 3.7° C and 3.6° C respectively. This is while these areas did not used to be known as hot and arid, Ziaian said.
"Tehran was 2.2° C warmer during the past month than the long-term average," he added.
Record Temps
According to the official, temperatures over 50° C might be considered too hot to tolerate in the eyes of people around the world, but in Iran, it has been recorded over 100 times in different areas since the beginning of the current water year.
"Provinces of Ilam, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Fars and Sistan-Baluchestan have seen the temperatures exceeding 50° C. Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province holds the highest record nationwide, with 53° C, ahead of Fars with 52.6° C," he added.
Rainfall Drops
Casting an analytical look at precipitation data, even laymen can say drought is more than a serious issue in the country, making the hot summer more unbearable.
Data from Iran Water Resources Management Company, a subsidiary of the Energy Ministry, shows that since the beginning of the current water year, the country has received 167.2 millimeters of rainfall.
The data indicates a drastic 27.4% fall compared to the same time last year which saw 230.4 mm of rain.
"We are over 30% behind the long-term average precipitation throughout the whole country, which is recorded at 241.2mm," Ziaian said.
The downfalls of the first summer month were also negligible and at half a millimeter.
"Although summer precipitation is normally meager, it was registered at 2.6 mm in its first month last year and 3.7 in the long-term," the official said.
Officials believe it is essential to acknowledge that Iran's water scarcity is here to stay and learn to adapt to it rather than combat the phenomenon by seeking new resources.
