Tunisia crossed a critical heat threshold on Monday, July 21, 2025. According to official statements from the National Institute of Meteorology (INM), the city of Kairouan recorded an exceptional temperature of 48 ° C, thus establishing a record for this summer. This heat wave, which is part of a context of global global warming, has affected almost all of the country’s regions, with abnormally high temperatures compared to seasonal averages.
Behind Kairouan, the governorates of Zaghouan and Tozeur came close to the record with 47 ° C. Other regions have not been spared: 46 ° C in Sidi Bouzid, Kébili, Gabès, Médenine and Tataouine; 45 ° C in Tunis, Jendouba and Gafsa; 44 ° C in Bizerte, Béja, Siliana and Sfax, and 43 ° C at Kef, in Kasserine and Monastir.
This heat wave is due to a powerful current of hot air coming from the Sahara, commonly called “Chergui”, which blows on the interior of the country and accentuates the temperatures felt. According to the INM, the temperatures observed are 7 to 11 degrees higher than seasonal normal.
Extreme heat peaks in Kairouan and other interior regions of Tunisia are no longer isolated cases. Historically, temperatures rarely exceeded 45 ° C, but for a decade, the frequency and intensity of heat waves have significantly increased. In 2018, Kairouan had already come close to 48 ° C, while in 2021, some statements had recorded a national record at 50 ° C, a threshold never reached before.
These phenomena are part of a global tendency to global warming which particularly affects the country’s desert and semi-arid areas, accentuating health and environmental risks.
Health services call for vigilance in the face of increased risks of dehydration, heat strokes and aggravation of chronic diseases. The authorities recommend avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, hydrate regularly and favor fresh places, especially for the elderly, children and vulnerable people.
This extreme phenomenon is not isolated. In recent years, Tunisia has recorded an upsurge in scorching days exceeding 45 ° C, especially in the interior areas. In 2021, a record peak had already been reached in Kairouan with 50 ° C, according to some unofficial statements, placing the city among the hottest in the world.
Furthermore, this extreme heat is under tensioning the country’s energy infrastructure. Electrical consumption reaches peaks due to the intensive use of air conditioners, which pushes the STEG to occasionally resort to load shedding to avoid blackout. A worrying situation in a context of high demand and fragility of the network.
Read :: Tunisia: up to 47 ° C, today, the hottest day of summer … For the moment
