Rain, snow ease across Iraq as weather system weakens

BAGHDAD — Rain-bearing clouds continued to affect much of Iraq on Friday, with precipitation expected to ease by evening and overnight before returning to parts of the country on Saturday, Iraq’s General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring said.

In a statement, the authority said satellite imagery from midday Friday showed rain clouds persisting over most cities, while dissipating over western areas. It added that “chances of rainfall or snowfall will weaken this evening and tonight in most regions.”

According to the forecast, rain is expected to return Saturday in central and southern areas only, with periods of heavier rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in some locations. The authority said the weather system will end by Sunday morning, followed by a shift to northwesterly winds that may be active at times, and then “gradual improvement and relative stability in weather conditions” through Tuesday morning.

The latest update follows days of widespread winter weather that left large parts of the Kurdistan Region blanketed in snow. Heavy snowfall covered cities and towns across Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok governorates, as well as mountainous and rural areas, disrupting traffic and prompting road closures on several major routes.

Authorities in multiple governorates deployed snowplows and road maintenance teams to clear main highways, including mountain passes linking Erbil with Shaqlawa, Soran and Sulaymaniyah. Traffic directorates urged drivers to avoid nonessential travel and warned of slippery conditions, particularly on elevated roads and tunnels.