Turkey has reported a record temperature of 49.5 degrees Celsius while experts warn a heatwave trend in the Mediterranean basin is here to stay until the 2040s.

The record temperature was registered on Tuesday in the central Anatolian province of Eskisehir, Environment Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The previous record was 49.1 degrees in 2021, he added.

Turkey’s national weather service warned on Wednesday that the heatwave would continue to surpass the normal seasonal temperatures by up to 11 degrees.

The main reason behind the heat records is climate change, according to Baris Onol, a meteorology professor at Istanbul Technical University.

Tweet from @extremetemps

Although El Nino also brings temperature records, the heatwaves have become more frequent and last longer, Professor Onol told DPA.

“Turkey will be much more exposed to high temperatures within the next 30 to 40 years like the rest of the Mediterranean region,” he said.

Peak tourism season in the Mediterranean region would shift to September and October from 2040, Professor Onol predicted.

Likewise, water management will be key for the region, he said, anticipating drought for the summer months in years to come.

-DPA