The UAE had the hottest July this year after 2002 as the temperatures shot up to 50.4 degree Celsius, the highest in nine years. According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, this temperature was recorded on July 20, a few days before 50.3 degree Celsius was registered in the Western Region. Still it’s less than the highest temperature registered by the centre since its inception; 52.1 degree Celsius on July 30, 2002, and from 2003 to 2011 mercury rose up to a maximum of 47.9 degree Celsius. According to the centre, the rise in temperature is caused by the South Easterly winds, which lies under the influence of the Red Sea depression or the Sudanese depression. Thermometers installed in motor vehicles show three degrees more than the real measurement, depending upon the place where the temperature is measured and type and colour of the vehicle. The centre however said it follows international standards for measuring temperature and monitoring weather. The soaring heat felt during the last few days were because of the increase in humidity level which went up to an average of 89 per cent, while in some suburban areas it reached 98 per cent. The centre had conducted 27 sorties for cloud seeding, which resulted in rains in some parts of the Eastern and Western regions. From : Khalij