Iraq's meteorological agency warns of five-day severe heat wave from August 1

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring said on Wednesday that a severe heat wave will affect the country beginning Saturday, August 1, 2026. The agency attributed the shift to a deepening semi-tropical high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere combined with seasonal thermal low pressure at the surface. According to the authority's weather report, temperatures are expected to rise noticeably across all Iraqi cities, with conditions forecast to be clear and sunny, partly cloudy in some areas. In parts of southern Iraq, peak temperatures are expected to slightly exceed 50°C, while other cities are forecast to record readings near or just below that threshold. Officials cautioned that thermal fatigue will intensify during midday and afternoon hours. The authority noted that the temperature rise coincides with the peak of the summer season, the period in which the year's highest average temperatures are typically recorded. No further details on regional variations or duration beyond five days were immediately available.