Saudi authorities urged worshippers on Tuesday to avoid direct exposure to the sun in an effort to mitigate deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage season. The kingdom is seeking a controversy-free holy season amid the conflict with Iran and following its success in reducing deaths last year.The temperature on Tuesday reached a high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 Celsius) and is expected to reach 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather.What happened: The Hajj, an annual Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, began on Monday this year and will conclude on Saturday. A Saudi official said on Friday that 1,518,153 pilgrims had arrived from abroad to participate, up from 1,506,576 in 2025, Agence France-Presse reported. More than 1.6 million people attended last year, a figure similar to those in prior years.Aerial footage broadcast by Saudi news outlets on Tuesday showed hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat, a hill where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his farewell sermon.Officials told attendees on Tuesday to remain in their camps until 4:00 p.m. local time to avoid the sun, local media reported.The National Center for Meteorology warned participants of rising temperatures on Tuesday, instructing them to avoid open areas and seek shade in designated areas.