Temperatures as high as 53C are being forecast by the GFS in south eastern parts of Iraq (one of the warmest places on the planet)

The heat is not the only impressive thing here, but the longevity, temperatures 10C+ above average are projected to continue for weeks, even the capital bagdad is likely to break its all time record of 50.0C on multiple occasions. We are unlikely to break the all time record set in death valley (which I am personally very dubious about anyway) but the all time Asian record of 53.6C could go. I think the all time minimax is 42C and this one could go especially by the 2nd (can someone please check this for me, I can't find any info about it).

The exceptional heat across parts of Europe has recently been blasted away to the east, giving eastern parts of the continent some record breaking temperatures. Now it appears to have progressed to Iraq, though I may be being a bit too simplistic?

Either way, those are some insane temperatures being projected.

Basrah international airport in Iraq is currently at 51.2C which is almost definitely a daily record.

52C has been recorded in Iraq.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/andrews/record-heat-in-iraq-1/53250

 It is currently between 37 and 39°C (depending on which source you use) after an earlier high of a scorching 50°C.l

edit: Gavin that is the same link (from 2011) as the one I posted a wee while ago 

My apologies I'm looking at 24 hour highs. Anyway it was 51.2C not 50C.

What source are you using? I have checked a couple of different ones and they both have a high of 50°C (presumably rounded).

There's some funny weather going on around there at the moment. While the Gulf has excessive heat, north/central Iran had big storms and flash floods last week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/33611461

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKwpgjXrqlg

It's the slightly cooler, but insanely humid days in the Gulf that are the most unpleasant, although I'm not sure I'd want to be out in 50c either!  

Is this round 2 for the Middle East...?!

More on it here.

Will the world record fall.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/11777843/Scorching-heat-dome-over-Middle-East-sees-temperatures-soar-to-165F-in-Iran.html

27.8C min and 42.5C in Nicosia yesterday.  Interesting that there was a sandstorm engulfed Amman's Airport and it show the sand coming over the planes and the planes disappeared.  Some rainfall had been recorded and few drops of rain over my brother's wife home which is very unusual to see any rain in high summer there.  Was 30C and 43C in Amman which is unusual to be hotter than Cyprus as it near to Iraq and often cooler than Nicosia by around 2-3C.

It seem a sandstorm does bring rain clouds with it.