Karbala and Najaf reach 50°C as heat spreads north

BAGHDAD — Karbala and Najaf are forecast to reach 50°C on Wednesday, joining Maysan, Basra, Muthanna and Dhi Qar, while temperatures also climb in the north, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Baghdad, Diwaniyah and Babil are expected to reach 49°C, and Anbar, Diyala, Salah al-Din and Wasit 48°C. Kirkuk is forecast at 46°C and Nineveh 45°C. In the Kurdistan Region, Erbil is expected to reach 44°C and Sulaymaniyah and Duhok 42°C, each up two to three degrees on Tuesday.

Skies will be generally clear with some cloud, increasing at times in scattered parts of the centre and north. Conditions will be hot to very hot during the day, particularly in the afternoon, turning relatively milder at night.

Visibility will range from 8 to 10 km, dropping to 4 to 6 km in some central areas because of haze and higher concentrations of pollutants.