One of the Most Extreme Readings Ever in the World': Iranian City Records Insanely High Heat Index

Searing hot temperatures have scorched the Middle East in the past several days, resulting in one Iranian city recording a heat index that made it feel like nearly 165 degrees.

Bandar Mahshahr recorded a "real feel" temperature of 164.8 degrees Friday as temperatures in Iraq exceeded 120 degrees for the eight continuous day, Fox News reported.

An Iraqi man shows a thermometer reading more than fifty degrees Celsius on July 30, 2015 in the capital Baghdad. AFP PHOTO / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)

“That was one of the most incredible temperature observations I have ever seen, and it is one of the most extreme readings ever in the world,” AccuWeather meteorologist Anthony Saglia told the New York Post.

[sharequote align="center"]“That was one of the most incredible temperature observations I have ever seen..."[/sharequote]

The world record was set in 2003 by Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, when the heat index hit 178 degrees, according to Fox News.

The current temperatures in the Middle East have forced some cities in Iraq to declare a heat holiday as officials urge citizens to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

According to experts, the high temperatures are the result of a high-pressure ridge in the atmosphere called a "heat dome."

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