Tunisia says 2026 summer hottest on record

Tunisia has declared 2026 to be its hottest summer on record, according to the country's weather authority. The extreme heat was fueled by multiple heatwaves, water shortages, and power cuts throughout the season. The National Meteorological Institute reported that the summer of 2026 ranked as the hottest since 1950, the year temperature records began.

The average temperature for the summer was approximately 2.9°C higher than the previous record. While Tunisia is no stranger to intense heat, the summer of 2026 was particularly grueling, with July and August dominated by prolonged heatwaves. Scientists attribute these episodes to climate change. The highest temperature of the summer was recorded in the central city of Kairouan, where it reached a scorching 49.7°C in mid-July.