Kurdistan Temperatures Dip as Iraq Scorches Under 51°C Heat
Iraq sizzles at 51°C, prompting official holidays as protests over power cuts continue. The Kurdistan Region sees a temporary drop in heat before another surge is expected.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A blistering heatwave is sweeping across central and southern Iraq, pushing temperatures to a life-threatening 51 degrees Celsius (half the boiling point of water) and forcing the government to declare official holidays, even as citizens continue to protest chronic electricity and water shortages in the suffocating heat. In contrast, the Kurdistan Region is expected to see a brief, temporary drop in temperatures before another surge arrives next week.
The Iraqi Federal Meteorological Authority issued a stark forecast for Monday, warning that temperatures would reach 51°C in the cities of Baghdad, Babil, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Muthanna, and Basra. Numerous other provinces, including Karbala, Najaf, and Kirkuk, are expected to endure temperatures between 49°C and 50°C. In response to the extreme conditions, the authority has urged citizens to remain indoors unless it is for "very necessary and important work."
The severity of the heatwave prompted the Iraqi government to announce an official holiday on Sunday, for the provinces of Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Karbala, Diwaniyah, Babil, and Wasit. While the meteorological authority has denied rumors that temperatures will reach an unprecedented 65°C this summer, it confirmed that readings will exceed 50°C in several areas, marking this as the "most intense heatwave of this summer."
Despite the dangerous temperatures and government-mandated holidays, daily protests are reportedly being held in many of Iraq's provinces. The demonstrations are against the persistent lack of basic services, particularly the shortages of water and electricity, which are most critical during such extreme weather events.
In the Kurdistan Region, residents can expect some short-term relief. Meteorology expert Mohammed Kamal told Kurdistan24 on Monday that a drop in temperatures is expected to last until Thursday, July 31. However, he cautioned that this respite will be temporary.
"We are in the 'Chila' of summer (the 40 hottest days of the season); the rise in temperature is a normal occurrence, and I expect temperatures to set record numbers several more times before the 'Chila' ends," Kamal said. He specifically predicted that "a week later, especially on August 7th and 8th, temperatures will rise again."
Within the Kurdistan Region, the Garmian Administration is forecast to experience the highest temperatures, where the mercury is estimated to reach 51°C, matching the extreme heat in southern Iraq.
Monday's Forecasted Temperatures in Iraq:
Baghdad: 51°C
Babil: 51°C
Maysan: 51°C
Dhi Qar: 51°C
Muthanna: 51°C
Basra: 51°C
Saladin: 50°C
Karbala: 50°C
Wasit: 50°C
Najaf: 50°C
Diwaniyah: 50°C
Kirkuk: 49°C
Nineveh: 49°C
Diyala: 49°C
Anbar: 48°C
