Tunisia heat wave eases, power cuts expected to end as temperatures fall

After several days of extreme heat that pushed temperatures to 44‑46 °C in the centre and south of Tunisia, the country faced record electricity demand of about 6,000 MW, far above the grid’s 4,400 MW capacity. Rolling, scheduled blackouts were imposed to prevent system failure.

Hydrometeorologist Mehrez Ghannouchi said the Saharan air mass will retreat from Friday 24 July, bringing cooler north‑easterly winds. Forecasts show maximum temperatures dropping to 32‑38 °C in the north and coast, and 40‑46 °C in the interior, with further declines over the weekend. Energy union leader Atef Bouabdallah explained that a 10 °C temperature reduction should allow the grid to rebalance within roughly 48 hours, and that power cuts could largely cease within the next three days if the weather continues to improve.

The cooling trend is also expected to lessen fire risk and reduce strain on the electrical network, offering relief to the population after one of the season’s most intense heat episodes.