Basra stays at 50°C as heat holds through the week

BAGHDAD — Basra is forecast at 50°C on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Maysan, Dhi Qar, Muthanna and Najaf at 49°C, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Karbala, Wasit and Diwaniyah are expected to reach 48°C on Tuesday and Baghdad, Diyala, Salah al-Din and Babil 47°C. Skies will be clear across most of the country with cloud in the east spreading at night. Northwesterly winds are forecast at 20 to 30 km/h, lighter and variable in the west of central Iraq and the east of the north, with visibility of 8 to 10 km.

Basra, Muthanna and Dhi Qar stay at 50°C on Wednesday with Maysan at 49°C and Baghdad at 47°C, and temperatures rising slightly across the centre and south. Thursday and Friday are forecast broadly unchanged, with isolated light thunderstorms possible in the north on Friday as winds strengthen.