Iraq to see scorching heat, dust continue

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Meteorological Authority said Wednesday that the country will see hot to very hot summer weather across all regions, with generally clear skies and scattered clouds in some northern areas.

Temperatures will be close to those recorded on Tuesday, with a slight drop in parts of the central and northern governorates. Forecast maps show maximum temperatures reaching 50°C in Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Muthanna, and ranging between 48°C and 49°C in Najaf, Karbala, Babil, Wasit, and Diwaniyah. Baghdad is expected to record a high of 48°C, while northern areas such as Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah will see milder highs of 43°C.

Winds will be northwesterly, light to moderate at 10–20 km/h, strengthening during the day in central and southern regions and raising dust and sand in desert areas. Horizontal visibility will range between 8 and 10 kilometers in most areas, dropping to 4–6 kilometers in dusty zones, especially during the morning due to haze and pollution.

The forecast for Thursday indicates that very hot weather will persist, with highs of 50°C in parts of the south and upper 40s in most other governorates, while relatively cooler conditions will continue in the far north.