Increased rainfall is beginning to raise fears of severe flooding in Iraq. Heavy rains and flooding are expected across the nation.
Increased flooding in Iraq raises possibility of a humanitarian crisis
Iraq might fall into a humanitarian crisis soon due to heavy rainfall and deadly weather expected this week.
The unpredictable and deadly weather can lead to floods that can damage essential infrastructure. Meteorological statistics indicate that rainfall will come in waves.
Moreover, forecasters expect the rains to spread from Southern Iraq to Baghdad and other northern areas. This is expected to happen on Monday and on the other days of the week.
Officials are currently concerned about flash floods in low-lying and metropolitan areas. Flash floods can easily cause substantial damage to these areas.
Meteorological findings predict heavier downpours by mid-week. Thursday will bring the most extreme weather. The high gusts and prolonged rain increase the probability of localised floods.
Additionally, winds are expected to increase all over Iraq. Wind gusts might exceed 40 km/hr in certain regions. This worsens circumstances due to lower visibility, which can further cause infrastructural damage.
Baghdad, which previously had relatively warm weather, is already feeling the change in weather. It is now witnessing increased cloud cover and sporadic showers with more rainfall forecast in the following days.
Weather professionals have warned authorities and citizens to exercise caution, especially in flood-prone areas. Heavy rain, wind, and regional instability may hinder response operations.
This weather pattern is affecting most of the Middle East. Surrounding countries are experiencing similar conditions. This points to a larger regional system causing instability and increased flooding danger.
Extreme weather conditions in Iraq follow global precedent
Extreme weather conditions have affected different parts of the world since the beginning of the year. These weather events have caused humanitarian crises and sometimes displaced people.
Some parts of the United States suffered from winter storms that led to power cuts and the death of some people. In Florida, a winter freeze led to about $3 billion in losses for farmers.
Similarly, Portugal faced a severe flooding crisis this year. The damages from the storm caused the displacement of about 3000 people and also led to losses estimated to be about €4 billion.