Rain and thunderstorms in the center and north, stronger winds over the weekend

BAGHDAD — Scattered light to moderate rain with occasional thunder and lightning is forecast for central and northern Iraq on Friday, mostly overnight, with stronger winds over the weekend and temperatures falling in several governorates from Monday, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy in the center and north. The south will be mostly clear during the day, clouding over at night, with a slight chance of rain in its northern parts. Highs will range from 28°C in Duhok to 40°C in Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Muthanna. Southeasterly winds will blow at 10 to 20 km/h, occasionally raising dust around storms. Visibility will be 8 to 10 km, falling to 5 to 7 km in storms.

Cloud and scattered rain with occasional thunderstorms will continue in the center and north on Saturday, with the south cloudy. Southeasterly winds will strengthen to 40 km/h in parts of the center and south, raising dust and cutting visibility to 3 to 5 km in rain. Sunday will be partly cloudy with northwesterly winds of 20 to 30 km/h, temperatures dipping slightly in the north and center and rising slightly in the south.

Skies will turn mostly cloudy nationwide on Monday, with temperatures falling several degrees in the north and less in the center and south, and northwesterly winds reaching 40 km/h in parts of the center and south. Cloud continues on Tuesday, with scattered rain and occasional thunderstorms in the center and south, temperatures rising slightly in the north and south and easing in the center, and winds at 20 to 30 km/h. Visibility will be 8 to 10 km, falling to 3 to 5 km in rain.