Cairo is bracing for hot summer weather on Wednesday, with weather experts predicting 41 degrees Celsius in the captial, part of a heatwave expected to last until Thursday.

In official statements to state-owned news agency MENA, officials from Egypt’s Meteorological Authority said that Cairo is expected to see a high of 41 degrees and a low of 28 low, while temperatures in the coastal city of Alexandria will range from 36 to 23.

Summer weather is expected nationwide on Wednesday, including in the normally cool northern coastal areas, with resorts in the south and east of the country particularly warm.

The Red Sea resort city of Hurghada will see a high of 41 and a low of 30, while Sharm El-Sheikh in South Sinai will see a high of 39 and low of 30.

Wednesday marks 12th day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn until dusk. Many will find the hot weather increasing the discomfort of their fast.

Wednesday will also see some moderate winds in southern parts of the country, with possible disruption of marine navigation in the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea.

On the Mediterranean Sea, there will be moderate waves, reaching 1.5 to 2 metres in height, while the Red Sea will experience moderate to extreme waves of 2 to 2.5 metres.