Iraq's meteorological agency says no significant heatwave expected in coming days

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Meteorological Directorate said no significant heatwave is expected across the country in the coming days. In a written statement issued Thursday, the directorate said data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model indicates that negative thermal anomalies of 1 to 4 degrees Celsius below seasonal norms will continue to affect most of the country. The agency noted that even with temperatures running below the seasonal average, the calendar places the country in the middle of summer. Officials said current readings do not point to a marked heatwave in the days ahead and that conditions will continue to follow a typical summer pattern. The directorate added that this weather pattern could persist until mid-July, describing it as an unusual setup for this time of year. No further details were immediately available.