Ice and clouds blanket Iraq with rain and chances of snow

BAGHDAD — Large parts of Iraq experienced partly cloudy to overcast conditions Tuesday, with a chance of light rain in some eastern areas and light snowfall over mountainous regions, according to the General Authority for Meteorology.

The authority said Tuesday’s weather would be “partly cloudy to cloudy in all regions,” becoming clearer during the evening and overnight “except the northeastern parts of the country.” It said “light rain showers are possible in some eastern areas during daytime hours, with light snowfall over mountainous heights,” while “waves of fog form in the eastern northern region during the morning and gradually dissipate.”

Temperatures were expected to drop several degrees compared with Monday. The authority said conditions would be “cold to very cold during the morning and night, and cold during the day.”

Northwesterly winds were forecast at 20 to 30 kph, easing to calm in northern areas. Visibility was expected to range between 8 and 10 kilometers, dropping to less than 1 kilometer in foggy areas.

For Wednesday, the authority forecast clear weather with some clouds, with slightly rising temperatures in northern and southern areas and stable readings in central regions.

Thursday is expected to be partly cloudy in northern and southern areas, while western parts of central Iraq would see cloudy and rainy conditions.

On Friday, the authority forecast cloudy skies with rain showers that may include thunderstorms in several areas, with snowfall continuing in northern regions and temperatures dropping there.

Saturday is expected to remain partly cloudy to cloudy, with rain forecast after noon in central and southern regions and active southeasterly winds in parts of the south.

The authority said temperatures would remain generally stable through the period, with slight increases in northern areas by Saturday and continued cold conditions during mornings and nights.