Heat Builds Over South and South West Asia

May 19, 2011; 12:18 PM ET

HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR BEGINNING

The hottest time of year is at hand across much of the South Asian Subcontinent. And it looms for the weeks ahead across across Arabia to Iran, where temperatures peak in June and July, depending upon location.

Central, north-central and northwestern India have already seen near, if not above, 45 degrees C on the hottest days. These same areas have been hottest with respect to normal, temperature departures from normal being mostly 1-2 degrees C.

Pakistan has been even hotter, as is normally true, with temperatures to at least 47 or 48 degrees C on the Indus River Plain. Late May to early June will likely bring even hotter weather here, as the hottest time of year is offset.

Oman to southeastern Iraq and southwestern Iran, including much of the Arabian Khaleej, has had highs near 45 degrees C during the last week to 10 days. Hot spots have had 46 to 47 degrees.

At least the next two days hold the promise for more 45-degree heat in South and South West Asia. Pakistan will get even hotter on the middle to lower Indus plain.

What “hot” looks like–GFS forecast of 2-meter temperatures for 1200 UTC Friday, 20 May, 2011.