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In Iraq, the climate is desert in the center and the south, with mild winters and extremely hot summers, it's semi-desert in the north, with relatively cold winters, while in the northern mountains, the climate is cold and rainy (or snowy) in winter and hot and sunny in summer, but with cooler nights due to the high altitude. IndexMountainsIn the north-eastern part of Iraq (zone 1 on the map), occupied by the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan (Zagros and Taurus), winters are cold and rainy, while summers are hot and dry, even scorching up to quite high altitudes. Annual precipitation ranges between 700 and 1,000 millimeters (27 and 40 inches), and occurs between October and April. This is the only area of Iraq which receives substantial rainfall. SulaymaniyahIn Sulaymaniyah, 850 meters (2,800 ft) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from 4 C (39 F) in January to 31 C (88 F) in July and August. So the summer is hot, as well as sunny, but the winter is cold, with possible snowfalls and frosts, when the area is reached by cold air masses from the north. Here are the average temperatures in Sulaymaniyah.Sulaymaniyah - Average temperaturesMonthMin (C)Max (C)Mean (C)Min (F)Max (F)Mean (F)January084324639.2February1105.5345041.9March51610.5416150.9April102115.5507059.9May152821.5598270.7June203527.5689581.5July243931.57510288.7August243931.57510288.7September203527.5689581.5October142821578269.8November81913.5466656.3December2116.5365243.7Year1224.21853.675.564.5In Sulaymaniyah, annual precipitation amounts to 745 mm (29.5 in), most of which occurring from November to April, while it never rains from June to September. Here is the average precipitation.Sulaymaniyah - Average precipitationMonthMillimetersInchesDaysJanuary1305.1February1455.7March1305.1April1003.9May401.6June00July00August00September00October150.6November753December1104.3Year74529.3In the northernmost mountainous area, winter is even colder, and in the valleys at high altitude, it is freezing. At the highest altitudes, heavy snowfalls occur. The highest peak of Iraq is Cheekha Dar, 3,611 meters (11,847 feet) high, on the border with Iran. Syrian desertNorth-west of Mesopotamia, in the hilly area towards Syria (zone 4), the climate is desert, quite cold with frequent frosts in winter and hot in summer, though a bit less hot than in the plains because of altitude. RutbahIn Rutbah, 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level, the average is between 6.5 C (43.5 F) in January and 30 C (86 F) in July. In summer, the temperature can sometimes reach 45/47 C (113/117 F). Ar Rutbah - Average temperaturesMonthMin (C)Max (C)Mean (C)Min (F)Max (F)Mean (F)January2116.5365243.7February51510415950March81813466455.4April132519557766.2May183024648675.2June223528.5729583.3July233730739986August233629.5739785.1September203326.5689179.7October162822618271.6November82014466857.2December5149.5415749.1Year13.625.219.456.577.467Throughout the year, only 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain fall, concentrated in the winter months. In winter, snow and frost are possible during cold spells. Here is the average precipitation.Ar Rutbah - Average precipitationMonthMillimetersInchesDaysJanuary150.66February150.66March2516April200.85May100.43June001July000August000September000October60.23November150.64December150.65Year1204.739In the rest of Iraq, which is occupied by plains or hills (zones 2 and 3), the climate is arid, mild in winter and scorchingly hot in summer. Summer goes from June to September, but the months of May and October are hot as well. Although the climate in Mesopotamia is desert, the landscape can change locally due to the rivers, both where they give rise to wetlands, and where they are exploited to irrigate the fields.NorthIn the northern belt (zone 2), the climate is arid, but in the cold half of the year, some depressions can affect this area for a few months, bringing moderate rainfall. MosulIn Mosul, located in the northernmost part of the plain, on the banks of the Tigris River, not far from the ancient Nineveh, winter is mild, but it's certainly not tropical: the January average is 7 C (44.5 F). From December to March, it rains for 7/10 days per month, and sunny days alternate with periods of bad weather. At night, it often gets cold, and the temperature can sometimes drop a few degrees below freezing (0 C or 32 F). Summer in Mosul is very hot, with a relentless sun, and with daytime temperatures of 43 C (109 F) in July and August, but with peaks of 47/48 C (117/118 F); fortunately, however, air humidity is low.Mosul - Average temperaturesMonthMin (C)Max (C)Mean (C)Min (F)Max (F)Mean (F)January2127365444.6February3159375948.2March71913456655.4April112518527764.4May163324.5619176.1June2139307010286July2543347710993.2August244333.57510992.3September193828.56610083.3October143122.5578872.5November72114457057.2December4149395748.2Year12.827.820.2555.182.168.5Throughout the year, in Mosul, 365 mm (14.5 in) of rain fall: they are not many, but they are concentrated between November and April, with very few rains in May and October, while it almost never rains between June and September. Here is the average precipitation.Mosul - Average precipitationMonthMillimetersInchesDaysJanuary602.411February652.611March652.612April451.89May150.66June100July000August000September000October100.45November451.87December602.410Year36514.471In Mosul, the sun shines regularly in summer, while it shines quite often in winter, when, however, there are also cloudy periods. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.Mosul - Sunshine hoursMonthAverageTotalJanuary5155February6170March7215April8240May10310June12360July12370August12370September11330October9280November7210December7215Year8.93230South-east of Mosul, Kirkuk has a similar climate because the more southern position is balanced out by the slightly higher altitude, around 350 meters (1,150 ft).

In the nearby cities of Kerbala and Ramadi, the climate is similar to that of Baghdad. Further south, the temperatures rise a bit in winter: in Basra and Nasiriya, the average ranges from 11 C (52 F) in January to 35.5 C (96 F) in July. On the coast of the Persian Gulf, it reaches 12 C (53.5 F) in January. However, the south in winter may experience some slight frosts at night as well. Rainfall in the south amounts to only 100 mm (4 in) per year, a value typical of a desert climate.

The Persian Gulf is very cool for swimming in winter, while it becomes very warm in summer, exceeding 30 C (86 F) for a few months. Here is the sea temperature at Al-Faw.

In late winter and spring, Iraq can be affected by strong southerly winds, which may give rise to dust storms; these winds may occur even in autumn and winter, though more rarely. On the contrary, during the long summer months, the shamal blows, a moderate northwesterly wind, very hot and dry, which may cause rapid dehydration, and when it's more intense, it can raise dust or sand.

In summer: in the whole country at low altitude, from north to south, bring lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a sun hat, and a desert turban; in the north and north-west (Mosul, Nineveh, Rutbah), you can bring a light sweatshirt for the night and early morning. In the mountains of Kurdistan, light clothes for the day, a sun hat or desert turban, a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening, a jacket for the highest peaks, and hiking shoes.

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Iraq climate: average weather, temperature, precipitation ...