KUWAIT, (Reuters) - Temperatures in Kuwait rose to a record 45 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) in the shade this week and experts predicted a possible high of 53 (127.4 Fahrenheit) in July, al-Qabas newspaper said on Saturday.

It quoted a meteorology official as saying that temperatures rose over the past three days above the record for this time of year. He said in July temperatures could exceed the previous record of 52 Celsius in the shade recorded two years ago.

Under the blazing sun, temperatures have been reported in the past to have reached into the 80s Celsius in exposed areas of the oil-rich, desert emirate.

Almost all buildings and vehicles in the Gulf Arab state are air-conditioned. But thousands of Western troops and United Nations peacekeepers are deployed in desert regions to monitor the border with former occupier Iraq.