Rain in central and northern Iraq as Basra reaches 41°C

BAGHDAD — Unsettled weather continues across central and northern Iraq on Monday with scattered rain and thunderstorms, while the south stays hot at up to 41°C, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Skies will be partly cloudy to overcast in the center and north, with scattered light rain during the day and a higher chance of rain in western Iraq overnight. Temperatures will be close to Sunday’s, cooler early in the morning and at night.

Sulaymaniyah is forecast at 28°C, Duhok 29°C and Erbil 30°C. Baghdad is expected at 35°C, Karbala 36°C and Najaf 37°C. Muthanna will reach 40°C, and Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan 41°C.

Winds will be light to moderate at 10 to 20 km/h. Visibility will be 8 to 10 km, falling to 5 to 7 km in rain.

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue in the north on Tuesday, with scattered showers possible in central areas on Wednesday. Thunderstorms return to the north on Thursday, with moderate to heavy rain in some northern areas on Friday and lighter showers possible elsewhere. Winds will strengthen to 20 to 30 km/h toward the end of the week, and temperatures will gradually fall in parts of the country.