YEREVAN. – Now we are in the zone of a heatwave which penetrated our country from the Arabian Peninsula; the penetration of the heatwave started on July 10. Gagik Surenyan, Deputy Director of the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center of Armenia, told this to a press conference Monday.

According to him, this heatwave became more intense Sunday, and yesterday afternoon 40-41 degrees Celsius was recorded in the Ararat Plain and in the capital Yerevan.

"In addition, since we haven't had precipitation for a long time, and the [current] air temperature [in Armenia] is 5-7 degrees higher than the climatic norm, there is a very high fire hazard situation, especially in the foothills and valley zones," said Surenyan, noting that in the last decade such heats have become a common phenomenon in Armenia.

And with respect to the forecasts, Gagik Surenyan said: "The effect of this heatwave [in Armenia] will be maintained until July 21 inclusive, the temperature in Yerevan and the Ararat Plain will vary between 38-40 degrees, in the mountainous areas—between 30-33 degrees. (...).

After July 22, that heatwave will gradually retreat to the south, giving way to relatively cool air currents—coming from the Black Sea—which are not so intense. According to forecasts, the temperature will drop by 4-5 degrees in the period between July 22-25, and already on the 23rd-24th we will have a temperature of up to 34-35 degrees, instead of 38-40, during daytime hours. Precipitation is not visible on the horizon because the incoming air is very dry."