Riyadh is reeling under the hot scorching summer sun, with daytime temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius and above. The heat and the discomfort that it is causing local residents this summer is the main topic of conversation wherever and whenever people get together. The streets in the Saudi capital seem deserted due to the hot weather conditions. Schools and colleges have already closed and many families have gone to cooler places, such as, Abha, Baha and Taif, where the summer temperatures are lower. Many expatriate families have returned to their home countries for their annual summer vacation. Those expatriates who are spending the summer in Riyadh often find it hard to believe the temperatures reported in the media and prefer to put their faith in the digital devices installed at banks and other locations in the city One resident snapped a shot of one such temperature reading and posted it on the Internet. He claimed that the snapshot was taken from his mobile camera on July 27 at 6:07 P.M. The digital device installed near the bank premises at Al-Ahsa Street (Pepsi Cola Road), Riyadh displayed the temperature at 51° Celsius. However, according to the BBC weather site the maximum temperatures recorded for Riyadh in July have been somewhere around 45 degrees Celsius, with the month of June also said to be extremely hot. The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment reported that the maximum temperature for the Saudi capital on July 29 was 43 degrees Celsius. According to a weather expert, the temperature devices installed near buildings within the city are largely misleading because they also show the surrounding heat coming from constructed areas, such as, buildings and tar roads, as well as the emissions from vehicles. He said the actual process of temperature recording is done in remote areas where there are no buildings and there is no heavy traffic. “Most residents see these digital devices and believe in the temperatures that they display, which are actually not real readings for the city,” he said. Meanwhile, doctors warned those working in extremely hot weather conditions to drink plenty of water and other liquids to stay healthy. They advised those who work in the sun to drink at least eight glasses of water a day and avoid staying in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
