Southern Iraq temperatures to hit 50°C on Thursday

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Meteorological Organization said temperatures will reach 50 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Iraq on Thursday, with mostly clear skies forecast across the country.

According to the agency’s daily forecast, Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan are expected to record highs of 50°C, while Babil, Wasit, Muthanna and Diwaniyah are forecast to reach 49°C. Baghdad, Karbala, Diyala and Najaf are expected to see highs of 48°C.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 47°C in Salah al-Din, 46°C in Anbar, and 45°C in Kirkuk and Nineveh. Cooler conditions are expected in the Kurdistan Region, with highs of 44°C in Erbil, 42°C in Sulaymaniyah, and 41°C in Duhok.

The agency said skies will remain clear in most areas, with some clouds expected over parts of the southern region. It forecast hot summer conditions during the day, especially around midday, with relatively milder weather at night hours.

Light northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 kilometers per hour are expected, becoming more active around midday in parts of southern Iraq before shifting to northwesterly in the northern areas.

Horizontal visibility is expected to range between 8 and 10 kilometers in most areas, dropping to 4 to 6 kilometers in eastern parts.

Karbala, Najaf, Basra and Babil have declared Wednesday a holiday for government offices, citing the Arbaeen pilgrimage, returning pilgrims and temperatures forecast to reach 50°C.