Egypt is expected to see a heatwave in the coming week, including the four days of the Islamic feast of Eid Al-Adha, set to begin on Tuesday, a statement by the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said on Saturday. On Sunday, "extremely" hot, humid weather is forecast for Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, and the southern and northern parts of the country during the day, while moderate temperatures are forecast at night-time countrywide. The heat is expected to drop "slightly" starting Monday in Greater Cairo and Lower Egypt, with warm weather in the north coast and moderate climate during the night. The southern part of the country will continue to see "extremely" hot weather. Humidity will remain high across Greater Cairo and the north coast from Sunday to Friday, stated the EMA. A 30 percent chance of light, intermittent rainfall is forecast in some areas in the southern part of the country (Halayeb, Shalateen, and Abu Simbel) from Sunday to Tuesday. Greater Cairo and Lower Egypt will see highs ranging from 39 to 36 degrees Celsius, the northern coast from 33 to 32 degrees, South Sinai 41 to 39 degrees, and Upper Egypt from 44 to 39 degrees. The EMA said the feels like temperatures during the next week will be 1-2 degrees higher than the actual temperatures. Egypt announced that the national holidays of Eid Al-Adha and the 69th anniversary of the 23 July 1952 Revolution, which secured the country's independence from British occupation, will span eight days rather than six days to start on 17 July and end on 24 July. Eid Al-Adha is one of the two main religious holidays in Islam, which falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Eid Al-Adha marks the beginning of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Egypt has not introduced special anti-coronavirus measures during the Islamic feast, unlike the three-day Eid Al-Fitr holiday in mid-May, which involved shutting public parks and beaches to contain the then rise in COVID-19 infections. The country's daily infection tallies recorded by the health ministry have been on a downward trend since early June.
