Iraq forecasts soaring temperatures as heat wave grips southern governorates

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s national weather agency on Monday warned that temperatures in 12 governorates have either reached or are expected to approach 50 degrees Celsius this week, prompting several southern provinces to shorten working hours or suspend government operations entirely.

The Iraqi Meteorological Organization said Tuesday’s forecast calls for hot and mostly clear conditions across the country, with light northwesterly winds. “Temperatures will slightly decrease in the central region and remain similar to the previous day in the southern and northern regions,” the agency said in a statement.

For Wednesday and Thursday, the weather is expected to remain hot with occasional clouds. “Temperatures will slightly decline across all parts of the country on Wednesday,” the agency said. A further drop is expected in the south on Thursday, with stable conditions forecast for the north and center. Friday will bring more of the same, with high heat and little variation in temperature.

Forecasts show high temperatures of 49°C in Baghdad, Diyala, Babil, Wasit, Kirkuk, Muthanna, Salah al-Din, and Najaf; 45°C in Sulaymaniyah and Duhok; 47°C in Erbil and Anbar; 48°C in Nineveh and Karbala; 50°C in Diwaniyah and Dhi Qar; and 51°C in Maysan and Basra.

Local authorities in southern governorates began implementing precautionary measures. In Basra, Governor Asaad Al-Eidani ordered that official working hours be shortened to end at 12 p.m. Maysan suspended work for Monday altogether, citing “abnormal and extreme temperatures.” Dhi Qar also halted government operations, with officials citing concerns for public safety amid the heat wave.