Baghdad hits 49°C with 50°C in the far south

BAGHDAD — Temperatures reached 50°C on Sunday in Maysan, Basra, Muthanna and Dhi Qar, with Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf, Wasit, Babil and Diwaniyah at 49°C, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said, as pilgrims continue walking to Karbala for Arbaeen.

Highs of 48°C were forecast for Kirkuk, Diyala and Salah al-Din, 47°C for Anbar and Nineveh, 46°C for Erbil, 44°C for Duhok and 43°C for Sulaymaniyah.

Skies were clear and sunny across most of the country with occasional cloud in the north, and temperatures close to Saturday’s readings. Northwesterly winds were forecast at 20 to 30 km/h with periods of calm and shifting direction in parts of the north. Horizontal visibility was expected to stay good at 8 to 10 km.

The outlook through Thursday is for mostly clear weather nationwide with some cloud in eastern areas, temperatures largely unchanged, then rising slightly on Wednesday in central and southern Iraq.