Mediterranean system brings rain, dust to Iraq

BAGHDAD — Iraq will experience variable weather in the coming days as a low-pressure system moving in from the Mediterranean began affecting the country on Monday, bringing clouds, rain chances and periods of dust, forecasters said.

Daytime weather is expected to be mostly clear with intermittent clouds, turning partly cloudy overnight with a chance of scattered rain in parts of northern Iraq and the eastern areas of the central region. Temperatures will rise slightly in central and southern areas compared with the previous day, while remaining generally steady in the north.

Winds will be moderate southeasterly, strengthening overnight in eastern parts of central Iraq with gusts reaching 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, raising dust and reducing visibility. Horizontal visibility is forecast to range between 8 and 10 kilometers, dropping in the morning due to haze and falling to between 1 and 2 kilometers in areas affected by dust.

Unsettled conditions are expected to continue through the week. On Tuesday, weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy with rainfall in northern Iraq and eastern parts of the country, accompanied by active southeasterly winds that may exceed 50 kilometers per hour and cause dust. Temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged.

On Wednesday, skies will be partly cloudy to cloudy with rain showers in the north and eastern parts of the central region, while snowfall is expected in mountainous areas. Temperatures will drop several degrees in the north, decline in central areas and ease slightly in the south as winds shift from southeasterly to northwesterly.

Conditions are expected to stabilize on Thursday and Friday, with generally clear to partly cloudy skies across most areas. Light, variable winds are forecast Thursday, becoming light to moderate northwesterly on Friday. Temperatures are expected to remain close to seasonal averages, with visibility improving to between 8 and 10 kilometers.