Iraq meteorological agency warns of heavy rain, flash-flood risk next week

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s weather agency warned Wednesday that an active weather system is expected to move over the country beginning Sunday, Dec. 7, bringing rain of varying intensity, thunderstorms and a risk of flash floods in low-lying areas and valleys in the north and east.

The General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring said the system may produce lightning, thunder and downdraft winds and could cause water to pool in streets with poor drainage. It said temperatures are expected to drop and surface winds to strengthen as the system passes.

The authority said it is still too early to pinpoint which locations will see the heaviest rain and that details will become clearer as the system approaches. It urged service departments to prepare for emergencies and said early planning is “the most important step” to limiting damage from the expected rainfall.

In its bulletin on Wednesday, the agency reported increasing cloud cover over central and northern governorates, with light rain in parts of the south accompanied by occasional thunder. Temperatures were forecast to fall in central and northern areas, with winds between 10 and 20 kph. Visibility ranged between 8 and 10 kilometers, dropping to about 6 kilometers in areas affected by morning fog.

The forecast for Thursday and Friday calls for partly cloudy skies across most regions, with a slight chance of light rain in some southern areas. Winds are expected to remain light to moderate, and visibility is projected to stay between 8 and 10 kilometers. Temperatures on both days are expected to be similar to those recorded Wednesday.

Conditions are expected to shift on Sunday, Dec. 7, when widespread rain is forecast across northern, central and southern Iraq. The authority said rainfall could range from light to moderate and may be heavy in some areas, with wind speeds of 20 to 30 kph and visibility reduced to between 6 and 8 kilometers.