Temperatures climb again with Dhi Qar heading for 45°C

BAGHDAD — Basra and Dhi Qar reached 43°C on Monday and temperatures are rising two to three degrees across Iraq, with Dhi Qar forecast at 45°C on Tuesday, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Maysan and Muthanna reached 42°C on Monday and Baghdad, Karbala, Babil and Diwaniyah 40°C. The Kurdistan Region stayed cooler, with Erbil at 36°C, Duhok 35°C and Sulaymaniyah 34°C, falling to 18°C overnight. Skies were clear with some cloud in the centre and south and partly cloudy in the north. Winds were light to moderate and variable at 10 to 20 km/h, with visibility of 8 to 10 km falling to 5 to 7 km in parts of the centre in the morning because of haze and raised pollutant levels.

On Tuesday Dhi Qar is forecast at 45°C, Maysan, Muthanna and Basra 44°C, Najaf and Diwaniyah 43°C, and Baghdad, Karbala, Babil and Wasit 42°C. Nineveh and Kirkuk are expected at 39°C, Erbil 38°C and Duhok and Sulaymaniyah 36°C.

Clear weather continues through Friday with cloud in the north. Temperatures rise slightly on Wednesday before falling several degrees in the centre and north on Thursday, when northwesterly winds strengthen to 20 to 30 km/h into Friday, gusting above 30 km/h in the east of the centre and south. Visibility could drop to 3 to 5 km where dust is blowing.