Why might 35°C in Europe be more dangerous than 50°C in the Arab world? The scientific secret

During heat waves, Europe experiences temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius, yet cases of heat stress and heat-related deaths are recorded, while residents of other regions in our Arab world experience temperatures exceeding 45 to 50 degrees Celsius with relatively less severe effects.

This apparent contradiction raises frequent questions: How can lower temperatures be more dangerous than higher temperatures?

Experts explain that the answer does not lie in temperature alone, but in a set of climatic, environmental and health factors that determine what is scientifically known as “actual heat stress”.

Humidity… the decisive factor in heat intensity

In many European heat waves, the humidity in the air increases, which reduces the body's ability to evaporate sweat, the primary mechanism for cooling the body.

When this mechanism malfunctions, the body's internal temperature rises even if the temperatures are lower than in other areas.

Infrastructure increases the impact of heat

Climate reports indicate that a large portion of buildings in Europe are designed to insulate against the cold in winter, not to repel the heat in summer.
With the limited availability of air conditioning in some countries, homes may become hotter than the outside during heat waves.

Why does higher temperatures seem “less dangerous” in some areas?

In contrast, large areas of the Arab world are characterized by a drier climate during hot periods, which allows sweat to evaporate more efficiently.
The widespread use of cooling systems also greatly reduces the impact of high temperatures on the body.

Scientific summary

The severity of heat waves is not measured by temperature alone, but by what is scientifically known as heat stress, which results from:

• the heat
• Humidity
• ventilation
• Living conditions and infrastructure

Therefore, 35° in a humid, enclosed environment may be more dangerous to health than 50° in a dry, air-conditioned environment.