Rain continues across Iraq as low-pressure system brings flooding and cooler temperatures

BAGHDAD — Rainfall persisted across Baghdad and several Iraqi governorates on Sunday as a Mediterranean low-pressure system pushed showers into a second day, bringing cloudy skies and cooler temperatures after five consecutive dry seasons. The Meteorological Authority said the system is expected to continue through Monday, especially in northern areas.

Amer al-Jaberi, media director of the Meteorological Authority, told the state newspaper Al-Sabah that the country was affected by “a low-pressure system coming from the eastern Mediterranean, which caused thunderous rain showers of varying intensity across different areas.”

He said the system would “gradually retreat toward eastern Iraq, with thunderstorms and at times heavy rainfall,” while rain in the north could include “heavy showers accompanied by hail at times.” He said the pattern was enabled by a weakening of the subtropical high in upper air layers, allowing low-pressure systems to enter and clouds to form.

Baghdad Municipality said it instructed service and engineering teams to operate at full capacity to drain water from streets and residential areas.

Heavy rain in Duhok’s Zakho district caused flooding that damaged cars and homes. Civil defense teams deployed boats to clear waterways on the Khabur River after two days of rainfall pushed water into homes in several neighborhoods and damaged multiple vehicles, the department said.

Authorities in Nineveh and Diyala suspended classes on Sunday because of heavy rain. Nineveh Governor Abdulqader al-Dakhil said the decision was made “to allow service crews in the municipality and sewage departments to address flooding in valleys and streets.”