Kazakhstan warned of intense heat and thunderstorms

Kazakhstan is set to experience severe heatwaves in the coming days, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 44 degrees Celsius in some areas. The national weather service has issued warnings for intense heat across multiple regions.

In Shymkent and Turkestan Region, daytime temperatures are forecast to reach a scorching 40-44 degrees Celsius, accompanied by an extreme fire hazard warning. The Turkestan Region specifically anticipates severe heat from August 12-14, with northwestern winds gusting up to 15-20 meters per second.

Other regions will also face significant heat and challenging weather conditions. Almaty is expected to reach 35-36 degrees Celsius with potential thunderstorms in mountain areas, while Mangystau Region could see highs of 40 degrees Celsius along with dust storms and fog. Atyrau Region anticipates temperatures of 35-36 degrees Celsius with light rain and thunderstorms.

Beyond the heat, strong winds are a widespread concern. Gusts of 15-20 meters per second are predicted in several regions, including Mangystau, Turkestan, Almaty, Pavlodar, and Atyrau. These winds, combined with dry conditions, contribute to a high or extreme fire risk across much of the country, particularly in western, central, and northeastern parts of Mangystau Region, and western, northern, and mountain areas of Turkestan Region.