Posted: Jun 27, 2017
The UK enjoyed a rare sweltering heatwave in June, but in some countries temperatures of around 30°C can be considered cool.
If you like it hot and want to settle down in one of the world’s warmest countries, read on to discover some of the most popular options.
India
First on the list is India, a nation well-known for its sweltering summers and humid monsoon season.
Even during the famous deluge of the monsoon, the temperature remains consistently high (around 20°C) in central India.
This figure is not indicative of the whole country, however. India is a vast nation, where far to the north the mountainous landscape brings lower-than-average temperatures.
This can pay off for those looking to cool down during India’s hottest months, as they can retreat north to the foothills of the Himalayas.
In India’s two largest cities, Mumbai and Delhi, average temperatures during summer months are 28-32°C, while in winter the ‘coldest’ temperatures often range from 17-13°C.
Malaysia
Swinging to the southeast, Malaysia is the next stop on the hot list.
The country is split into two main sections, the west on a peninsula and the east on a coastal stretch of an island shared with Indonesia and Brunei.
Despite being surrounded by oceans and seas, Malaysia enjoys remarkably consistent high temperatures throughout the year.
In the western capital of Kuala Lumpur and the eastern city of Kuching, average temperatures remain at 27-28°C year-round.
Local solutions for dealing with the heat include drinking sweet juices, like coconut water and cane juice. Additionally, the heat can be managed by eating spicy food. While this may appear counterintuitive, this can increase sweat production as well as blood circulation.
Algeria
We head to the Mediterranean for the next entry, with Algeria being another haven for those looking for heat.
The country occupies a sizable chunk of North Africa, but also borders the Mediterranean Sea.
This causes a large disparity in the landscape; on the coast, Algeria has plenty of greenery among its craggy hills and palm-laden streets.
To the south, however, is one of the driest places on earth, the Algerian Desert. For those braving this sandy expanse for an expedition, temperatures are wildly disparate, spanning from -10°C to 34°C.
In the more densely populated north, Algeria typically sees winter temperatures between 10-12°C. In summer, the usual is between 24-26°C, with the higher end occasionally being reached in the capital of Algiers.
Mexico
As well as being famed for its tongue-torching chillies, Mexico is also known for its thermometer-worrying temperatures.
The country’s expansive area and distinctive shape creates a diversity of temperatures. In the centrally-located capital of Mexico City, the average temperature is between 13-18°C, while in Canún on the Yucatan Peninsula, temperatures range from 23-28°C.
As with Malaysia, the tip about eating spicy food to cool off applies here, but it’s worth checking the Scoville scale before eating to make sure you don’t end up needing to down a jug of water after!
Another local technique for keeping cool is to wear the distinctive Mexican hat, the Sombrero. Its classic peak provides excellent ventilation to an overheating head, and the wide brim keeps the wearer in the shade during the hottest hours of the day.
United States
Rounding off the list of some of the hottest countries in the world is the US – or (more specifically) the hottest US states.
Based on year-round averages, the hottest state is considered to be Florida, but the arid southwestern state of Arizona also deserves an honourable mention.
From June to August, Arizona’s average high is around 40°C, while in winter, the state’s lowest temperatures are typically around 7°C.
In Arizona’s state capital, Phoenix, the consistently hot and dry weather has created a few problems – including limiting the variety of weather forecasts.
Meteorologist Matt Pace is famous for his forecasts, but sometimes struggles with giving the same outlook on a daily basis;
‘I go, “It’s hot”, or, “It’s above average”, or “It’s going to be extremely warm today”. There’s also, “It’s really hot out there”, or “It’s hot, hot, hot”, or just “Triple hot!”’.
More seriously, temperatures close to 50°C have recently caused airlines to cancel their flights, due to the intense heat thinning the air and making it harder for planes to take off.
If you do decide to settle in one of the world’s warmest countries, remember to stock up on sun cream!
