Heat Relief in Sight, But Hottest Day Still Looms

YERUSHALAYIM

There’s no escape from the sun’s heat Monday – except maybe in a room with drawn curtains and a really powerful air conditioner. That might be the best alternative, health officials said, for Israelis who may be used to hot weather, but not hot weather like they have experienced for the past five days.

That mega-heat wave will reach its apex on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures in the high 90s Fahrenheit – (high 30s Centigrade) minimum – in almost the entire country during the heat of the day, breaking 100 Fahrenheit (40 C.) in many parts of the country. Humidity will be high in the coastal areas as well.

Magen David Adom and United Haztalah health workers treated dozens of people who were dehydrated or ill because of the heat. The Israel Electric Corporation reported a record-breaking generation of 12,708 megawatts at 2.49 p.m. Monday afternoon, as air conditioners ran full-blast during the hottest part of the day. This beat the record posted Sunday, of 12,438 megawatts at 3 p.m. The IEC expects Monday’s record to be broken Tuesday as well, officials said.

The heat wave began last Thursday, and has only intensified. Relief can be expected on Wednesday, forecasters said, but temperatures will still remain higher than normal for this time of year.

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