Highs of 47°C in the south as northwesterly winds raise dust across Iraq

BAGHDAD — Temperatures will reach 47°C in southern Iraq on Saturday under mostly clear skies, while northwesterly winds strengthening to 50 km/h are expected to raise light to moderate dust across southern governorates, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Skies will be mostly clear, with occasional cloud developing over the northern mountain ranges during the day, according to the organization’s daily forecast. Conditions will stay hot, particularly around midday, turning relatively milder in the early morning and at night. Temperatures will hold near Friday’s readings in central and southern Iraq and dip slightly in the north.

Northwesterly winds are forecast at 20 to 30 km/h, strengthening during the day in southern Iraq to as much as 50 km/h and raising dust, particularly in desert areas and along highways. Horizontal visibility will generally range between 8 and 10 km, falling to 5 to 7 km in areas affected by dust.

Forecast maps issued by the organization show daytime highs of 47°C in Basra, Maysan and Dhi Qar governorates, 46°C in Muthanna, Diwaniyah and Wasit, 45°C in Baghdad, Babil, Karbala, Diyala, Salah al-Din and Najaf, 43°C in Nineveh and Kirkuk, 42°C in Anbar and Erbil, 41°C in Sulaymaniyah and 40°C in Duhok.

Mostly sunny conditions are expected to continue across Iraq through Tuesday, with moderate northwesterly winds prevailing. Wind speeds should ease to 10 to 20 km/h from Tuesday onward, while temperatures rise slightly again during the middle of next week.

The Transport Ministry, which the organization operates under, announced separately that a moderately cool air mass moving toward Iraq from southern Europe would reach the country next week, bringing temperatures slightly below the seasonal average for this time of year.