Egypt's capital Cairo sees unprecedented hot weather

The Egyptian capital city Cairo and several provinces nationwide witnessed on Wednesday unprecedented hot weather with a maximum temperature amounting to 45 degrees Celsius, local meteorological authority said.

"The reason for such a weather is that a desert trough accompanied by western winds comes from the Western Desert," Wahid Saudi, media spokesman of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

He noted that the winds coming from the Western Desert are so fast and active that it increased the temperature and raised dust. But "this wave of heat is expected to decline by 10 degrees Celsius tomorrow," the official reassured.

Along with dust winds, most people of the most populous Arab state had to be confined at home or closed places to avoid the unusual weather that caused some panic among some.

Some Egyptians preferred to take the day off and stay at home, as the day witnessed high absence rate among employees and students, while sales of air conditions, fans and cold drinks and icy juices have amazingly flourished. Endit