Rain and thunderstorms forecast across central Iraq as temperatures fall

BAGHDAD — Rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast across central and western Iraq on Sunday, spreading more widely on Monday, as temperatures continue to fall, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said.

Baghdad is expected at 33°C with showers and a low of 22°C. Sulaymaniyah is forecast at 26°C, Duhok 29°C and Erbil 30°C, while Basra stays hottest at 40°C. Rain is possible in Anbar, Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Najaf, Wasit and Muthanna, with the north mostly clear to partly cloudy. Northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 km/h are expected in the centre and south, lighter in the north, with visibility of 8 to 10 km falling to 5 to 7 km in northern haze.

Rain becomes more widespread on Monday, with light to moderate showers and thunderstorms in the centre and north and possible rain in the west of the south. Sulaymaniyah is forecast at 27°C, Duhok 29°C, Erbil and Nineveh 31°C, Baghdad and Kirkuk 32°C and Basra, Dhi Qar and Muthanna 40°C. Moderate showers and storms move into the north on Tuesday while the south stays clear, and cloud and rain persist in the centre and north on Wednesday and Thursday, with winds strengthening to 20 to 30 km/h midweek.