Rain, dust forecast as weather shifts across Iraq

BAGHDAD — Iraq will see unsettled weather starting Monday with clouds, rain and dust in parts of the country, as temperatures begin a gradual decline later in the week, according to the General Authority for Meteorology.

In a statement received by 964media, the authority’s forecasting department said Monday’s conditions will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with light to moderate rainfall, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms, in scattered areas of the country.”

Temperatures on Monday will be “close to those recorded yesterday in the central and southern regions, and slightly higher in the northern region,” the statement said.

Winds will be “southeasterly, light to moderate at 10 to 20 kilometers per hour,” becoming active at times in western areas at speeds reaching 35 kilometers per hour, “causing dust to rise in those areas,” according to the authority.

Horizontal visibility is expected to range between 8 and 10 kilometers, dropping to between 5 and 7 kilometers due to haze during morning hours, and to between 2 and 4 kilometers in dusty conditions.

For Tuesday, the authority forecast that weather will be “partly cloudy turning cloudy in general, with light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms occurring in scattered areas of the country, especially in the eastern sections.”

Winds on Tuesday will be “southeasterly, moderate to active at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour,” again leading to dust in some areas. Temperatures are expected to drop “by several degrees in the central and southern regions and slightly in the northern region.”

On Wednesday, conditions will be “partly cloudy to cloudy in the eastern sections of the central and northern regions with light, sometimes thunderous rain showers,” while the southern region will see “clear weather with some clouds,” the statement said. Winds will shift to northwesterly at 20 to 30 kilometers per hour, with temperatures falling slightly across the country.

The authority said Thursday’s weather will be “partly cloudy turning cloudy in the afternoon across the country,” with light, variable winds and temperatures remaining stable in the south while rising slightly in the central and northern regions.

By Friday, conditions are expected to be “partly cloudy to cloudy in the central and northern regions, and clear with some clouds in the southern region,” with southeasterly winds at 20 to 30 kilometers per hour and temperatures “close to the previous day across the country.”