What does 46 degree heat feel like?

[SixKeys]

Going away for 10 days to a country where it will be a min of 30 degrees at night and max of 45 in the day. Have never felt heat like this before. Planning on doing excursions very early in morning, staying in hotel and going to museums and air conditioned places during the day, then poss going out again in the evening. Can anyone help me prepare for such extreme heat? Is it oppressive? Manageable? Any tips for staying comfortable?

I’d cancel. I lived in the ME, and temperatures in high summer were regularly there and above, so I’d acclimatised, but it was unpleasant to go about your daily life in that heat, moving from air con to aircon, avoiding outdoors, and would be doubly, triply unpleasant to be attempting to have a good time on an expensive holiday when you’re not acclimatised and feel pressurised to do something other than stay indoors.

Unbearable

Worst ever was 42 degrees on the border of Germany (French side) right in the middle. After two days I basically gave up, legs and feet swelled to the point no shoes in any shop would fit my feet (they just don’t make em that shape) and one morning my mascara melted and ran in my eyes while I was hanging out the washing. Sat down on a limestone bridge at 5pm and thought fuck you sun just kill me then🤣 The 10y.o started refusing to go outside! However, have been in New Mexico in the same temperature and hotter, and worn jeans and trainers so can only assume it was humidity vs dry heat.

Enjoy your holidays!

I've been to the Hunter Valley in Australia where it was over 40C (I think around 44C for two of the days). It was bone dry and actually it wasn't as bad as you would think considering how celtic I am. I didn't try to do much that was energetic, I stayed out of direct sunlight as much as possible and I drank as much water as I possibly could but I wasn't stuck in my hotel room at all. Visiting my DH's family in Malaysia is much tougher even though it doesn't go much above mid 30sC because the humidity is horrendous.

I've been to Egypt several times and haven't found the heat too much, mainly because the humidity is very low. I used to take a portable thermometer with me on holiday but it broke when we were staying in Abu Simbel and the temperature got to 50 degrees.

Everywhere is very well air conditioned and I've always found it much easier to cope with a very dry temperature in the 40s in Egypt that 30 degrees in Europe.

Woooo sounds like a great trip, been to those places myself, you're in for a treat. You know it's going to be hot but you can do a lot to make it bearable. I won't lie the heat is really intense in Luxor and Aswan but you sound like you've got some good ideas. I found being by the Nile was better than in town, and visiting the tombs and temples early in morning is good. Drift along in a felucca under shade. Dip in water when you can. Always have your flip flops as you won't be able to walk on sand or pool deck in bare feet.
Cairo will be fairly smoggy - again the river is your friend. Take daytime siestas and go with the flow. Drink a lot of bottled water. Have fun, it's a beautiful place

Another thought about going to Egypt. Many people do get bad tummy upsets which they blame on food and drink, but it's also important to be really careful about handling money and to sanitise your hands every time you touch any notes. Most notes are absolutely filthy and are often the source of infections. We've always been meticulous with sanitising whenever we've used money and in several trips, none of us has ever had a serious tummy issue.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

It feels like walking around in an oven. I've done it, and wouldn't recommend.

It's debilitating tbh.

If you go out, do so at dawn or after sunset.

Take things really gently, drink a lot more than you think you need to. Rehydration salts regularly too.

Tbh if that's the temperatures, I'd be looking to rebook.

Wow, how amazing! I will definitely be PMing you once I wake up 😊 thank you!

Dry heat isn’t that bad as long as you stay out of the sun. I really hate heat, but the few times I’ve been in dry heat at 45 or even 50, it just isn’t that unpleasant compared to 40 in a place with high humidity.

It might look ridiculous, but a parasol can make a huge difference in body temperature if you are going to be outside during high sun periods.

I live in the Central Valley of California, @SixKeys

It’s like that during the summers here. Anything over 37 (100F) and it’s all the same to us - too darn hot.
Wear light-colored cotton. Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated. Don’t over-exert yourself. Don’t stay out in the sun for very long. Try to schedule your activities for early morning or evening. Wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. I think there are even special clothes that are sun-safe.
Have fun.

I lived in central Africa for a while and it hit these temps. I could hardly walk from tree (shade) to tree without struggling. It depends on the air. I had dry heat and I couldn’t get my breath. I was also working with no air con so it’s wasn’t fun. Here I needed salt and water. Long sleeves and flowing skirts.

When I lived in Singapore it was the humidity that killed me. I had to have an endless supply of water and couldn’t wear anything with elastic fibres - so all natural loose cotton.

Air con is great but I find worse when you head back out…

I love the heat so much that I moved to Australia. We emigrated in February from Ireland so we got on the plane in minus 2 degrees, and landed in Perth at 42! That was a challenge, the first few weeks we had that aircon cranking night and day, and only really went out morning and evening. Now I'm acclimatised my favourite temp is 35. Anything over 37 is hard work if you have to do anything, but I love it if I can just wander from aircon to pool, with cold beers from the fridge and bbq for tea! We have dry heat here, I can't cope with humidity well. 46 is very hot indeed, and you have to be careful, as others have said keep hydrated and avoid the mid-day sun. Wear natural fabrics and buy a parasol. Don't plan to do too much in the heat of the day and enjoy your trip! Also decent sunnies, a big hat and wearing natural fibers will help.

I went to Turkey 10 years ago and it was 43 degrees and I found it unbearable. I was 20 and a total sun worshipper at the time and I couldn't lay in it, I was either in the pool or the aircon. That kind of heat isn't for me anymore!

One tip which is useful- wear a wet bandana around the back of your neck (In Aus we have ice things you can freeze to wear but doubt UK has these on sale). Re wet it every so often with water from an insulated bottle (like a contigo type cup). It really cools you down!

Been to Vegas and Dubai in the summer, no idea of the temperature but I recall feeling like my eyelids were frying, like when you nearly burn your eyelashes off when you get to close to an open oven door.

I’ve experienced 50 degrees in a place called Learmonth in Western Australia. It’s not pleasant. Everyone was indoors. It’s quite difficult to breathe properly. Almost like you can’t take a full breathe due to the heat in the air. We were there for a few hours before heading down the coast.

We have had 40 plus odd living in Oz too. Again, you just stay inside with the aircon on and tend to do the pool in the evening. Or go shopping in aircon or be grateful work had aircon.

Dh and I stopped in Death Valley and took 2 litres of water each to do a 20 minute marked trail, must have been 40s….the kind of thing that wouldn’t even have registered at home. Ended up back at car parched and necking the water we’d left in the car too….

top tip is don’t wait till you are thirsty to drink, and eat fruit, watermelon is good, replaces the electrolytes.

I've been in Las Vegas in August for a stretch of 45-48 degree days. It's not as bad as it might seem, as long as you have access to proper air conditioning. We did short stretches of time walking about, swam and spent time by the pool in the shade. Has a great time.

I've been to Egypt in October but in Aswan it was 42 in the shade. It's hot and you can feel the heat when you breathe in!

It was over 40 in the UK last year and I was working on wards. Air conditioning? what is that? it was pretty torturous, but I survived.

Been in Cyprus where it was well over 40. You just don't sit out in it. Slap loads of factor 50 on ALL THE TIME (I got through bottles of it), shit tons of water (bottled ONLY!!), keep the booze to a reasonable level (ie don't get pissed), and stay in water as and where tolerated. The pool was cool, the sea was like a warm bath. A/C in the room overnight. I loved it!