Rain possible in the north as Basra reaches 46°C

BAGHDAD — Light thundershowers are possible in parts of northern Iraq on Friday while Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Muthanna reach 46°C, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Sulaymaniyah and Erbil may see rain, at 38°C and 39°C, with Duhok at 38°C under partly cloudy skies. Wasit is forecast at 45°C, Najaf and Diwaniyah 44°C, Babil 43°C and Baghdad 42°C.

Northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 km/h will strengthen during the day in the west, gusting to about 45 km/h and raising dust across desert areas and highways. Visibility will be 8 to 10 km, falling to 4 to 6 km where dust is blowing and to 5 to 7 km in parts of the centre in the morning because of raised pollutant levels.

Saturday cools sharply in the centre and north. Baghdad falls from 42°C to 38°C, Sulaymaniyah from 38°C to 35°C and Duhok from 38°C to 35°C, while Basra and Dhi Qar hold at 45°C and Maysan at 44°C. Sunday is generally clear with cloud in the south and winds strengthening there to around 40 km/h, potentially raising dust, before partly cloudy conditions on Monday and Tuesday and a slight rise in temperatures.