Temperatures to approach 50°C in parts of Iraq as heat intensifies

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s General Authority for Meteorology forecast hot summer weather across the country in the coming days, with temperatures expected to approach 50 degrees Celsius in some southern areas by Tuesday.

According to a report from the authority’s forecasting department, conditions on Saturday will remain clear and sunny nationwide. Temperatures are expected to stay at similar levels across the country, creating hot daytime conditions, particularly around midday, while becoming relatively milder during the night.

Winds will be light and variable at speeds between 5 and 10 kilometers per hour, occasionally shifting to northwesterly at speeds of 10 to 20 km/h.

Visibility is expected to remain generally good, ranging between 8 and 10 kilometers. However, morning haze and increased concentrations of air pollutants are expected to reduce visibility to between 5 and 7 kilometers in central and southern regions.

The authority said active northwesterly winds reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h are expected on Sunday and Monday, raising light dust in eastern parts of the country.

Temperatures are forecast to rise noticeably on Tuesday, nearing 50°C in some southern areas, before decreasing by several degrees on Wednesday.