Iraq forecasts rising temperatures, dust storms across country

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Meteorological Authority said Wednesday that temperatures are expected to rise across the country in the coming days, with dust storms forecast in several areas.

According to the authority, Thursday’s weather will be partly cloudy in central and northern areas and clear to partly cloudy in the south. Winds are expected to shift from light to moderate southeasterly winds to moderate northwesterly winds at night.

Temperatures are forecast to increase by several degrees nationwide. Highs are expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius in Basra and Dhi Qar, 45 in Muthanna and Maysan, 44 in Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf, and 40 in Diyala and Anbar.

The authority said Friday will bring partly cloudy to cloudy weather in central and northern regions, with moderate rainfall expected in parts of the Kurdistan Region. Moderate northwesterly winds reaching up to 40 kilometers per hour are expected to cause light to moderate dust storms across the country.

Temperatures are expected to drop by several degrees Friday in central and southern Iraq and by a few degrees in northern areas.

Saturday’s forecast calls for generally clear weather with some clouds, while northwesterly winds in eastern parts of southern Iraq may cause additional dust.

The authority said Sunday’s weather is expected to remain mostly clear with some clouds nationwide, with temperatures slightly rising again in central Iraq.