Dhi Qar at 47°C, with rain and thunderstorms possible by Wednesday

BAGHDAD — Dhi Qar is forecast at 47°C on Saturday, with most of the centre and south above 40°C and the north in the 30s, before temperatures fall early next week and rain becomes possible on Wednesday, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Sulaymaniyah is expected to be coolest at 37°C, with Duhok and Erbil at 38°C, while highs elsewhere range from 41°C to 46°C. Skies will be mostly clear, turning partly cloudy overnight in places. Northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 km/h will strengthen during the day in the east of the south, gusting to 40 km/h and raising light dust in desert areas, with visibility of 8 to 10 km falling to 5 to 7 km where dust is blowing.

Sunday stays similar, with Duhok and Sulaymaniyah at 37°C, Erbil 39°C, Baghdad 42°C and Maysan, Dhi Qar and Basra 45°C. Temperatures drop several degrees nationwide on Monday and further on Tuesday, particularly in the centre, before cloud spreads across the country on Wednesday with light rain possible, at times with thunderstorms in central Iraq.