A shepherd stands beside his flock at sunset in the Al-Harraqa area near Qalat Saleh in Maysan governorate, where herders face drought, livestock disease and declining milk production linked to harsh climate conditions. Photo by 964media.
Weather report
Intense heat wave to grip Iraq with highs near 47 °C in the south
BAGHDAD — Iraq faces an intense summer heat wave over the coming days, with temperatures reaching the upper 40s Celsius in the southern governorates as the seasonal thermal low-pressure system continues to dominate, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization said.
In its forecast issued Saturday, the organization said skies will stay clear and sunny with very hot daytime conditions and temperatures above 40 °C in most cities. Basra is forecast to record the highest at 47 °C, followed by Maysan and Dhi Qar at 46 °C, while Baghdad is expected to reach 44 °C.
Temperatures will be close to Friday’s, hottest in the afternoon, with relatively milder mornings and nights.
Northwesterly winds are forecast at 20 to 30 km/h, gusting to about 50 km/h in parts of central and southern Iraq in the afternoon. The stronger winds could raise dust, particularly in desert areas and along highways, cutting horizontal visibility to between 7 and 10 km in dusty areas.
The four-day outlook has clear and hot weather continuing through Wednesday across the country. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly Sunday, hold close to those levels Monday, then climb again Tuesday and Wednesday.
Northwesterly winds will continue at 20 to 30 km/h over the coming days, strengthening at times in parts of central and southern Iraq to above 40 km/h and raising light dust. Visibility is expected to stay between 6 and 8 km, dropping to 4 to 6 km in dusty areas on Tuesday and Wednesday.