
Dust storms hit Iraq before expected weather shift
Shafaq News/ Iraq is expected to see calmer weather conditions in the second half of May, with the summer season officially beginning in June, an Iraqi meteorologist said on Sunday.
Meteorologist Sadeq Al-Attiya told Shafaq News that Iraq's spring weather fluctuations—common from March to mid-May—are driven by unstable pressure systems, with cold air from Europe clashing with warm currents from the Arabian Peninsula and recurring 'Khamsin lows' every 50 days.
'When precipitation is scarce, particularly in Iraq's western desert regions, the lack of vegetation increases the likelihood of dust storms in spring,' Al-Attiya noted. He added that regional sources contribute significantly to Iraq's dust burden, particularly eastern Syria, which has seen widespread desertification due to neglect, along with parts of southern Iraq and Al-Anbar province, where poor rainfall has turned large areas into dust hotspots.
However, he projected a gradual stabilization of weather patterns after mid-May as the country enters the dry summer phase. That period is typically dominated by strong northwesterly winds, which persist for 40 to 45 days and bring frequent dust storms, particularly during midday.
On May 5, a thick dust storm blanketed Baghdad, turning the capital into a ghostly yellow scene and severely reducing visibility across the city.
Iraq's General Traffic Directorate warned that the storm could expand into central and southern Iraq by evening, urging road users to reduce speed, use hazard lights, maintain safe distances between vehicles, and stop driving altogether if visibility becomes critically low.
Stabilization is expected to begin later Monday, with clearer skies and mild springtime conditions forecast for the night.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
Basra heat tests South Korea ahead of Iraq clash
Shafaq News/ South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo warned that soaring temperatures and rising pressure could pose major challenges in Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Basra. 'This match won't be easy—we're feeling the pressure,' Hong told Shafaq News. 'We trust our players to perform. Everyone is ready, and we aim to take the three points.' The Group B clash at Basra International Stadium is expected to unfold under scorching 45°C heat, heightening physical strain on both squads. South Korea leads the group with 16 points and needs only a draw to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while Iraq sits third with 12 points and must win to keep its hopes for direct qualification alive. The match will also mark the debut of Iraq's new head coach Graham Arnold, appointed last month to replace Jesús Casas. South Korea will be without center-back Kim Min-jae, who opted out ahead of the Club World Cup. European-based players like Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) are expected to feature prominently, while Iraq turns to striker Aymen Hussein and promising midfielder Ali Jasim to lead the attack. The teams last met in 2023, with South Korea securing a narrow 1–0 victory, making it the Koreans' sixth win against Iraq since 2006, with three draws and one defeat.


Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Shafaq News
Powerful quake hits Turkiye's Marmaris: 70 casualties reported
Shafaq News/ The powerful earthquake that struck Turkiye's southwestern Marmaris region early Tuesday resulted in 70 casualties, according to Turkish authorities. The 5.8-magnitude quake hit at 2:17 a.m. local time (2317 GMT on Monday), about 10 kilometers off the coast of Marmaris in Muğla province, the country's AFAD disaster agency reported. While the tremor did not cause structural collapses, it triggered widespread panic among residents who rushed to safety. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the death of 14-year-old Afranur Günlü, who suffered a fatal panic attack in the coastal district of Fethiye. 'Despite all interventions, she unfortunately passed away,' Yerlikaya wrote on X. Muğla Marmaris'te 5.8 büyüklüğünde bir deprem meydan gelmiştir. Çevre illerden de hissedilen depremle ilgili olarak, Valimizin koordinasyonunda AFAD ve ilgili kurumlarımızın tüm ekipleri saha taramalarına devam etmektedir. İlk belirlemelere göre şehir genelinde yerleşim bulunan… — Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) June 3, 2025 In addition to one death, at least 69 people were reportedly injured, with 14 treated at the scene, eight discharged, and 46 remaining under treatment in emergency departments. Turkiye, situated on major fault lines, is prone to frequent seismic activity. In 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country, claiming over 53,000 lives and causing widespread destruction, with hundreds of thousands of buildings either damaged or destroyed across 11 provinces in the south and southeast.


Iraqi News
02-06-2025
- Iraqi News
Iraq investigates mass fish die-off in marshlands due to climate change droughts
Najaf – Iraqi authorities on Monday launched a probe into a mass die-off of fish in the southern marshlands, the latest in a string of such events in recent years. One possible cause for the localised die-off could be a shortage of oxygen sparked by low water flow, increased evaporation and rising temperatures fueled by climate change. Another possible reason could be chemicals used by fishermen to make it easier to catch their prey, local officials and activists told AFP. AFP images showed large quantities of silver fish floating in the marshlands of Ibn Najm near the southern city of Najaf. Buffaloes could be seen surrounded by dead fish, trying to cool themselves off in the water. 'We have received several citizens' complaints,' said chief environmental officer in Najaf, Jamal Abd Zeid, adding that a technical inspection team had been set up. An AFP photographer at the site saw a team of civil servants collecting water from the marshland. Among the issues the team was tasked with probing, Abd Zeid said, were a shortage of water, electrical fishing and the use by fishermen of 'poisons'. For at least five years, Iraq has been hit by successive droughts fuelled by climate change. Authorities also blame the construction of dams by neighbouring Iran and Turkey for the drastic drop in flow in Iraq's rivers. The destruction of Iraq's natural environment is only the latest layer of suffering imposed on a country that has endured decades of war and political oppression. 'We need lab tests to determine the exact cause' of the fish die-off, said environmental activist Jassim al-Assadi. A lack of oxygen caused by low water flow, heat, evaporation and wind were all possible reasons, he said. He said agricultural pesticides could also have led to the mass die-off. Probes into other similar events showed the use of poison in fishing led to mass deaths. 'It is dangerous for public health, as well as for the food chain,' Assadi said. 'Using poison today, then again in a month or two… It's going to accumulate.'