Tunisia Records Hottest Summer Since 1950 Amid Heat, Power and Water Crises
Tunisia's National Meteorological Institute has reported that summer 2026 was the country's hottest since records began in 1950, with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius and prolonged heatwaves...
Tunisia experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, according to the National Meteorological Institute, as prolonged heatwaves coincided with power cuts and worsening water shortages.
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The institute said the average temperature was about 2.9 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record. July and August were marked by intense, persistent heat, including unusually high temperatures overnight.
Temperatures neared 50 degrees
The highest recorded temperature was 49.7 degrees Celsius in Kairouan in mid-July. Temperatures also reached 49.2 degrees Celsius in Beja and 48.4 degrees Celsius in Tozeur.
Scientists have attributed the heatwave episodes to climate change. Tunisia is accustomed to very hot conditions, but the latest figures mark an exceptional season against the country’s temperature record dating back to 1950.
Heat linked to reported deaths
The group representing young Tunisian doctors reported numerous deaths it said were caused by the heat, although it did not provide a figure. Authorities had not released an overall assessment of the health impact of the heatwaves.
The Tunisian League for Human Rights said it had documented 23 deaths in prisons. The organisation linked the deaths to harsh conditions worsened by high temperatures and overcrowding.
Power cuts disrupted water supplies
Power outages added to the strain during the summer. President Kais Saied said some outages, including in the capital, lasted more than 10 hours. He described them as not simply temporary or isolated cases and said they did not result from ordinary breakdowns, referring to what he called “criminal plans” and “attempts at provocation.”
State-run electricity company STEG said the outages were used for load shedding to reduce pressure on its network. The differing explanations were reported as Tunisia dealt with the effects of the disruptions.
Water cuts became frequent because much of the country’s water supply depends on electric pumps that were affected by the power outages. The disruptions were also linked to a shortage of bottled water, further complicating conditions during the heatwaves.
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