Dust storms forecast to persist across western, northwestern Iraq

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Meteorological Authority warned Saturday that waves of dust will continue developing into storms across western and northwestern regions during daylight hours, later spreading with reduced intensity to some central areas.

Visibility in storm-affected regions may fall between 1 and 3 kilometers, the authority said. In areas experiencing lighter dust or rainfall, visibility is expected to range from 4 to 6 kilometers.

Temperatures are forecast to slightly decrease in northern and central cities, while southern and western regions will remain similar to Friday’s levels.

Winds will be northwesterly at speeds of 10 to 20 kilometers per hour in most areas. However, southeastern winds in southern and eastern cities could reach 20 to 30 kilometers per hour, potentially fueling further dust activity.

Dust storms that began in Iraq in April have persisted into May, disrupting visibility and affecting public health across several governorates.

On April 14, a severe dust storm in southern Iraq hospitalized more than 1,700 people due to breathing difficulties, halted flights in Basra, and forced the closure of government offices in multiple provinces.

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