60 degrees Celsius rumors 'not ultimate truth' consideration factors involved

KUWAIT: Kuwait Meteorological Center is keen on providing the masses with transparent and accurate weather reports, officials said yesterday. Rumors and social media clips regarding the weather and rising temperatures should not mislead the public, said officials from the Kuwait Meteorological Center, which is affiliated with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), pointing out that machines of various purposes were used to bring accurate information and data about the climate in Kuwait.

Deputy Director at DGCA Khaled Al-Shuaibi revealed that internationally approved gadgetry were in use to accurately measure temperature and predict the weather. What is being spread on social media outlets in regards to soaring temperatures over 60 degrees Celsius should not be the ultimate truth especially taking into consideration the factors involved, affirmed the official who indicated that to measure temperature one must look into the circumstances and equipment used in the process. He stressed that using vehicles' thermometers or other gadgets to measure heat were not reliable, adding that the DGCA's Meteorological Center takes into account several factors, including exposure to the sun, shade, and wind activities, before coming up with their numbers.

In similar fashion, climate observer at the Meteorological Center Hussain Dashti affirmed that they would go through various processes before any statement on the weather and temperatures was delivered. Tools of various purposes, whether underground or in the direct sun, were gathering data, he indicated. Stations in the sea, islands, and mainland Kuwait were all linked via complicated networks and servers with the goal of studying the climate and observing the weather, Dr Dashti affirmed who added that all of the stations were regularly monitored and maintained to ensure the best data possible. Dr Dashti added that other than local efforts, the center was cooperating with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), exchanging data and information regarding Kuwait's weather to attend to various functions one of them being the suitability of the country's weather for aviation. It is worth mentioning that the first meteorological center in Kuwait was established in Shuwaikh area in 1953. In 2006, 27 weather centers were operating in Kuwait. The highest temperature recorded in the country was in 2016 at 53.9 Degrees Celsius, while the lowest was recorded in 2009 at 4.8 degrees below zero. - KUNA