Snow, Rain Wave in Kurdistan Region to End Friday Night: Meteorology Department

Snow, Rain Wave in Kurdistan Region to End Friday Night: Meteorology Department

After a week of heavy snowfall and torrential rain, the Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Meteorology announced that the current weather wave is expected to end on Friday night, with stable conditions forecast to continue until January 9.

“Today, moderate rain will continue in the provinces of Sulaimani and Halabja, as well as the Raparin and Soran independent administrations. In other areas, light to moderate rain will fall intermittently,” the department said in a statement.

The directorate added that snowfall will persist in border areas throughout the day, noting that “during the night hours, the weather will normalize, bringing an end to the wave of snow and rain.”

Cold Temperatures to Persist Despite Improved Conditions

For Saturday, meteorologists expect calmer weather conditions.

“There is a possibility of fog in some areas early in the morning. Generally, the sky will be partly cloudy,” the statement said.

Mohammed Kamal, a meteorology expert, told Rudaw on Friday that the weather pattern is nearing its end.

“It is predicted that this wave will conclude by midnight tonight and the weather will remain stable until the 9th of this month,” Kamal said, adding that “severe cold will persist until Monday, and temperatures will begin to rise starting Tuesday.”

Authorities advised residents, especially those in mountainous and border areas, to remain cautious as cold conditions continue despite the improvement in weather.

Previous Weather Waves and Water Reserves

This is the second major wave of snow and rain to hit the Kurdistan Region this season.

Last month, three consecutive days of heavy rainfall caused severe flash floods across the Kurdistan Region and parts of Iraq. According to the Kurdistan Region’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC), five people were killed, 19 injured, and 2,225 homes damaged across the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk province.

Chamchamal district in western Sulaimani province was the hardest-hit area, with two fatalities and 12 injuries reported. The JCC said approximately 1,607 homes were damaged, 200 vehicles destroyed, 115 shops and workplaces affected, and 450 projects impacted.

Despite the damage, water reserves have improved. Rahman Khani, head of the Kurdistan Region’s Dams Department, told Rudaw on Thursday that dam reserves have increased by around 500 million cubic meters since early December.

Khani said the Region’s three main strategic dams—Dukan, Darbandikhan, and Duhok—have all recorded significant increases in water levels, offering potential relief for water shortages in parts of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.