The Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Meteorology and Seismology has issued a warning to citizens regarding an incoming dust storm expected to affect most areas on Friday and Saturday.

Dust Storm to Cover Southern and Western Iraq

The meteorology department stated that a dust and sand storm will blanket the southern and western regions of Iraq, with its impact extending into areas of the Kurdistan Region.

Most Areas of the Kurdistan Region Expected to Be Affected

It noted that the dust storm will first begin in the southern and western parts of the Kurdistan Region, specifically affecting Kirkuk and Erbil, before extending across most regions by Friday morning.

Visibility Expected to Decline

According to the meteorology department, horizontal visibility will generally drop to between 5 and 7 kilometers, though the impact will remain weak in the Duhok and Zakho areas.

Dust Storm Impact Expected to Intensify

The department also forecasts that from Friday night into Saturday, the impact of the dust storm will significantly increase across Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Kirkuk, as well as the Garmian and Raparin administrations, reducing visibility to three kilometers.

Dust Storm Expected to Continue Until Saturday

The meteorology department expects the impact of the wave to persist until Saturday afternoon, with a possibility of light drizzle in parts of the Raparin, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and Garmian administrations, before its effects weaken by Saturday night.

According to the department, the dust storm wave will also cause temperatures to drop by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.