Japan recorded the highest ever temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, beating the previous high of 41.1 C marked in 2018 and 2020. Authorities are strongly urging people to take precautions to avoid risks of heatstroke.
The mercury hit the above-human temperature of 41.2 C in the city of Tanba, Hyogo Prefecture, at 14:39, while two cities — Fukuchiyama in Kyoto and Nishiwaki in Hyogo — also recorded extremely high temperatures of 40.6 C and 40 C, respectively.
I have endured a Phoenix, Arizona heat at just under 120° F and opening my motel door was like opening an oven to check on something you’re baking. Our rental car had to have the AC on for about 3 minutes before sitting in the seats wasn’t searingly painful. It took about 5 minute for the steering wheel to be comfortable enough to grip for more than a few seconds.
The city of Phoenix shouldn’t exist. It’s a monument to American hubris.
But it’s fine… it’s a different kind of heat…
A fire is a dry heat too
Ackshually, combustion releases water vapor. If you have a gas stove, you might have noticed condensation on the side of a pot of water when starting from cold. That’s why.
Ackshually hot air has a higher vapor capacity, therefore the fire is a dry heat, and only away from the fire does it become moist.