Climate Center: Heatwave to break Wednesday; temperatures reach 33℃

CAIRO - 18 May 2026: The extreme heatwave currently affecting the country will begin to gradually subside starting Wednesday, marking the end of the peak of the record-breaking heatwave.

 

Dr. Mohamed Ali Fahim, Head of the Climate Information Center at the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that the country will witness a significant drop in temperatures due to the influence of a moderate northern air mass, which will begin to displace the hot air mass that has recently dominated the atmosphere.

 

Temperatures are expected to drop considerably, reaching 33℃ in Greater Cairo, the Nile Delta, and northern Upper Egypt, extending to the borders of Minya Governorate. This represents a decrease of approximately 7℃ compared to the peak of the heatwave.

 

Meanwhile, a temporary rise in temperatures will persist in southern Upper Egypt, where extremely hot conditions will continue, with daytime temperatures remaining around 44℃ Technical Advisory for Farmers During the Heatwave

 

In a related context, experts warned that the transition from hot, dry air masses to cooler, more moderate air masses, accompanied by high temperature fluctuations, could place physiological stress on plants.

 

The urgent recommendations for farmers during this period are as follows: Provide quick, short irrigations (to compensate for moisture lost during the peak of the heatwave), avoiding overwatering to prevent root rot. Continue the ban on spraying systemic pesticides or using agricultural sulfur until the weather stabilizes completely on Thursday. Postpone nitrogen fertilization until the heatwave has completely subsided across the country to avoid stressing the plants.

 

Forecasts indicate that this gradual cooling on Wednesday will pave the way for a widespread and comprehensive improvement in weather conditions across the country next Thursday.

 

The temperature drop is expected to extend to Upper Egypt governorates as well, resulting in mild spring weather accompanied by strong winds that will improve horizontal visibility and significantly reduce overall temperatures.