Editing Geography of Iraq (section)

==Climate==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 IRQ 1991–2020.svg|thumb|300x300px|Köppen–Geiger climate classification map at 1-km resolution for Iraq 1991–2020]]
[[Image:Iraq.A2003060.0750.500m.jpg|thumb|upright|Snow-capped mountains in Iraq]]
[[Image:Dust Storm over Iraq.jpg|thumb|upright|Dust storms in Iraq, on July 30, 2009.]]
The climate of Iraq is mainly a [[hot desert climate]] or a [[hot semi-arid climate]] to the northernmost part. Averages high temperatures are generally above {{convert|40|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at low elevations during summer months (June, July and August) while averages low temperatures can drop to below {{convert|0|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the coldest month of the year during winter<ref>{{Cite news|title=Weather longterm historical data Baghdad, Iraq|newspaper=The Washington Post|year=1999 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/longterm/historical/data/baghdad_iraq.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129072021/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/longterm/historical/data/baghdad_iraq.htm |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The all-time record high temperature in Iraq of {{convert|53.9|°C|°F|abbr=on}} was recorded near [[Basra]] on 22 July 2016. Most of the rainfall occurs from December through April and averages between {{convert|100|and|180|mm|1|sp=us}} annually. The mountainous region of northern Iraq receives appreciably more precipitation than the central or southern desert region, where they tend to have a [[Mediterranean climate]].

Roughly 90% of the annual rainfall occurs between November and April, most of it in the winter months from December through March. The remaining six months, particularly the hottest ones of June, July, and August, are extremely dry.

Except in the north and northeast, mean annual rainfall ranges between {{convert|100|and|190|mm|in|sp=us}}. Data available from stations in the foothills and steppes south and southwest of the mountains suggest mean annual rainfall between {{convert|320|and|570|mm|in|1|sp=us}} for that area. Rainfall in the mountains is more abundant and may reach {{convert|1,000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} a year in some places, but the terrain precludes extensive cultivation. Cultivation on nonirrigated land is limited essentially to the mountain valleys, foothills, and [[steppes]], which have {{convert|300|mm|in|1|sp=us}} or more of rainfall annually. Even in this zone, however, only one crop a year can be grown, and shortages of rain have often led to crop failures.

Mean minimum temperatures in the winter range from near freezing (just before dawn) in the northern and northeastern foothills and the western desert to {{convert|2|and|4|to|5|C|F|1}} in the alluvial plains of southern Iraq. They rise to a mean maximum of about {{convert|16|°C|°F|1}} in the western desert and the northeast, and {{convert|17|°C|°F|1}} in the south. In the summer mean minimum temperatures range from about {{convert|27|to|31|C|F|1}} and rise to maxima between roughly {{convert|41|and|45|C|F|1}}. Temperatures sometimes fall below freezing and have fallen as low as {{convert|-14|°C|°F|1}} at Ar Rutbah in the western desert. Such summer heat, even in a hot desert, is high and this can be easily explained by the very low elevations of deserts regions which experience these exceptionally searing high temperatures. In fact, the elevations of cities such as [[Baghdad]] or [[Basra]] are near the sea level (0 m) because deserts are located predominantly along the [[Persian Gulf]]. That is why some Gulf's countries like [[Iraq]], [[Iran]] and [[Kuwait]] experience extreme heat during summer, even more extreme than the normal level. The searing summer heat only exists in low elevations in these countries while mountains and higher elevations know much more moderated summer temperatures.

The summer months are marked by two kinds of wind phenomena. The southern and southeasterly ''sharqi'', a dry, dusty wind with occasional gusts of {{convert|80|km/h|sp=us}}, occurs from April to early June and again from late September through November. It may last for a day at the beginning and end of the season but for several days at other times. This wind is often accompanied by violent duststorms that may rise to heights of several thousand meters and close airports for brief periods. From mid-June to mid-September the prevailing wind, called the [[shamal (wind)|shamal]], is from the north and northwest. It is a steady wind, absent only occasionally during this period. The very dry air brought by this shamal permits intensive sun heating of the land surface, but the breeze has some cooling effect.

The combination of rain shortage and extreme heat makes much of Iraq a desert. Because of very high rates of evaporation, soil and plants rapidly lose the little moisture obtained from the rain, and vegetation could not survive without extensive irrigation. Some areas, however, although arid, do have natural vegetation in contrast to the desert. For example, in the [[Zagros]] Mountains in northeastern Iraq there is permanent vegetation, such as [[oak]] trees, and [[date palm]]s are found in the south.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Baghdad
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes 
| Jan high C = 15.5
| Feb high C = 18.5
| Mar high C = 23.6
| Apr high C = 29.9
| May high C = 36.5
| Jun high C = 41.3
| Jul high C = 44.0
| Aug high C = 43.5
| Sep high C = 40.2
| Oct high C = 33.4
| Nov high C = 23.7
| Dec high C = 17.2
| Jan mean C = 9.7
| Feb mean C = 12
| Mar mean C = 16.6
| Apr mean C = 22.6
| May mean C = 28.3
| Jun mean C = 32.3
| Jul mean C = 34.8
| Aug mean C = 34
| Sep mean C = 30.5
| Oct mean C = 24.7
| Nov mean C = 16.5
| Dec mean C = 11.2
| Jan low C = 3.8
| Feb low C = 5.5
| Mar low C = 9.6
| Apr low C = 15.2
| May low C = 20.1
| Jun low C = 23.3
| Jul low C = 25.5
| Aug low C = 24.5
| Sep low C = 20.7
| Oct low C = 15.9
| Nov low C = 9.2
| Dec low C = 5.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 26
| Feb rain mm = 28
| Mar rain mm = 28
| Apr rain mm = 17
| May rain mm = 7
| Jun rain mm = 0
| Jul rain mm = 0
| Aug rain mm = 0
| Sep rain mm = 0
| Oct rain mm = 3
| Nov rain mm = 21
| Dec rain mm = 26
| unit rain days = 
| Jan rain days = 5
| Feb rain days = 5
| Mar rain days = 6
| Apr rain days = 4
| May rain days = 2
| Jun rain days = 0
| Jul rain days = 0
| Aug rain days = 0
| Sep rain days = 0
| Oct rain days = 1
| Nov rain days = 5
| Dec rain days = 6
| Jan humidity = 71
| Feb humidity = 61
| Mar humidity = 53
| Apr humidity = 43
| May humidity = 30
| Jun humidity = 21
| Jul humidity = 22
| Aug humidity = 22
| Sep humidity = 26
| Oct humidity = 34
| Nov humidity = 54
| Dec humidity = 71
| Jan sun = 192.2
| Feb sun = 203.4
| Mar sun = 244.9
| Apr sun = 255.0
| May sun = 300.7
| Jun sun = 348.0
| Jul sun = 347.2
| Aug sun = 353.4
| Sep sun = 315.0
| Oct sun = 272.8
| Nov sun = 213.0
| Dec sun = 195.3
| Jan uv = 3
| Feb uv = 4
| Mar uv = 6
| Apr uv = 8
| May uv = 10
| Jun uv = 11
| Jul uv = 11
| Aug uv = 10
| Sep uv = 9
| Oct uv = 6
| Nov uv = 4
| Dec uv = 3
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] ([[United Nations|UN]])<ref name=WMObaghadad>{{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/154/c01464.htm |title=World Weather Information Service – Baghdad |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625022518/http://worldweather.wmo.int/154/c01464.htm |archive-date=25 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| source 2 = Climate & Temperature<ref name=climatetempbaghadad>{{cite web |url=http://www.climatetemp.info/iraq/baghdad.html |title=Baghdad Climate Guide to the Average Weather & Temperatures, with Graphs Elucidating Sunshine and Rainfall Data & Information about Wind Speeds & Humidity |access-date=25 December 2011 |publisher=Climate & Temperature |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106135651/http://www.climatetemp.info/iraq/baghdad.html |archive-date=6 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/iraq/baghdad-climate#uv_index |title=Monthly weather forecast and climate for Baghdad, Iraq |access-date=27 April 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919180124/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/iraq/baghdad-climate#uv_index |url-status=live }}</ref>
| date = August 2010
}}

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|collapsed=yes
|location=Basra
|Jan record high C=34
|Feb record high C=39
|Mar record high C=39
|Apr record high C=42
|May record high C=48
|Jun record high C=51
|Jul record high C=53.9
|Aug record high C=52.2
|Sep record high C=49.6
|Oct record high C=46
|Nov record high C=37
|Dec record high C=30

|Jan high C=18.4
|Feb high C=21.7
|Mar high C=27.7
|Apr high C=33.9
|May high C=40.7
|Jun high C=45.3
|Jul high C=46.9
|Aug high C=47.1
|Sep high C=43.2
|Oct high C=36.8
|Nov high C=25.9
|Dec high C=19.8

|Jan mean C=12.9
|Feb mean C=15.7
|Mar mean C=21.0
|Apr mean C=27.2
|May mean C=33.9
|Jun mean C=38.3
|Jul mean C=40.0
|Aug mean C=39.8
|Sep mean C=35.7
|Oct mean C=29.6
|Nov mean C=20.1
|Dec mean C=14.4

|Jan low C=7.6
|Feb low C=9.5
|Mar low C=13.9
|Apr low C=19.7
|May low C=25.9
|Jun low C=30.4
|Jul low C=32.3
|Aug low C=31.9
|Sep low C=27.8
|Oct low C=22.4
|Nov low C=14.5
|Dec low C=9.2

|Jan record low C=-4.7
|Feb record low C=-4
|Mar record low C=1.9
|Apr record low C=2.8
|May record low C=8.2
|Jun record low C=18.2
|Jul record low C=22.2
|Aug record low C=20
|Sep record low C=13.1
|Oct record low C=6.1
|Nov record low C=1
|Dec record low C=-2.6

|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=34
|Feb precipitation mm=19
|Mar precipitation mm=23
|Apr precipitation mm=11
|May precipitation mm=4
|Jun precipitation mm=0
|Jul precipitation mm=0
|Aug precipitation mm=0
|Sep precipitation mm=0
|Oct precipitation mm=7
|Nov precipitation mm=30
|Dec precipitation mm=31

|Jan rain days=4
|Feb rain days=2
|Mar rain days=2
|Apr rain days=2
|May rain days=1
|Jun rain days=0
|Jul rain days=0
|Aug rain days=0
|Sep rain days=0
|Oct rain days=1
|Nov rain days=2
|Dec rain days=3

|Jan sun=186
|Feb sun=198
|Mar sun=217
|Apr sun=248
|May sun=279
|Jun sun=330
|Jul sun=341
|Aug sun=310
|Sep sun=300
|Oct sun=279
|Nov sun=210
|Dec sun=186

|Jand sun=6
|Febd sun=7
|Mard sun=7
|Aprd sun=8
|Mayd sun=9
|Jund sun=11
|Juld sun=11
|Augd sun=10
|Sepd sun=10
|Octd sun=9
|Novd sun=7
|Decd sun=6

|source 1=''Climate-Data.org''<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate: Basra – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/4555/ |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>

|source 2=''Weather2Travel'' for rainy days and sunshine<ref>{{cite web |title=Basra Climate and Weather Averages, Iraq |url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/iraq/basra.php |publisher=Weather2Travel |access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Mosul
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes

| Jan record high C = 21.1
| Feb record high C = 26.9
| Mar record high C = 31.8
| Apr record high C = 35.5
| May record high C = 42.9
| Jun record high C = 44.1
| Jul record high C = 47.8
| Aug record high C = 49.3
| Sep record high C = 46.1
| Oct record high C = 42.2
| Nov record high C = 32.5
| Dec record high C = 25.0

| Jan high C = 12.4
| Feb high C = 14.8
| Mar high C = 19.3
| Apr high C = 25.2
| May high C = 32.7
| Jun high C = 39.2
| Jul high C = 42.9
| Aug high C = 42.6
| Sep high C = 38.2
| Oct high C = 30.6
| Nov high C = 21.1
| Dec high C = 14.1

|Jan mean C =  7.3
|Feb mean C =  9.1
|Mar mean C = 13.1
|Apr mean C = 18.2
|May mean C = 24.5
|Jun mean C = 30.3
|Jul mean C = 34.0
|Aug mean C = 33.4
|Sep mean C = 28.7
|Oct mean C = 22.1
|Nov mean C = 14.2
|Dec mean C =  9.0

| Jan low C =  2.2
| Feb low C =  3.4
| Mar low C =  6.8
| Apr low C = 11.2
| May low C = 16.2
| Jun low C = 21.3
| Jul low C = 25.0
| Aug low C = 24.2
| Sep low C = 19.1
| Oct low C = 13.5
| Nov low C =  7.2
| Dec low C =  3.8

| Jan record low C = -17.6
| Feb record low C = -12.3
| Mar record low C =  -5.8
| Apr record low C =  -4.0
| May record low C =   2.5
| Jun record low C =   9.7
| Jul record low C =  11.6
| Aug record low C =  14.5
| Sep record low C =   8.9
| Oct record low C =  -2.6
| Nov record low C =  -6.1
| Dec record low C = -15.4

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 62.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 62.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 63.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 44.1
| May precipitation mm = 15.2
| Jun precipitation mm =  1.1
| Jul precipitation mm =  0.2
| Aug precipitation mm =  0.0
| Sep precipitation mm =  0.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 11.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 45.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 57.9

| Jan precipitation days = 11
| Feb precipitation days = 11
| Mar precipitation days = 12
| Apr precipitation days =  9
| May precipitation days =  6
| Jun precipitation days =  0
| Jul precipitation days =  0
| Aug precipitation days =  0
| Sep precipitation days =  0
| Oct precipitation days =  5
| Nov precipitation days =  7
| Dec precipitation days = 10

|Jan sun = 158
|Feb sun = 165
|Mar sun = 192
|Apr sun = 210
|May sun = 310
|Jun sun = 363
|Jul sun = 384
|Aug sun = 369
|Sep sun = 321
|Oct sun = 267
|Nov sun = 189
|Dec sun = 155

| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organisation]] (UN)<ref name="WMOkirkuk">{{Cite web |title=World Weather Information Service – Mosul |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/154/c01467.htm |access-date=1 January 2011 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
| source 2 = ''Weatherbase'' (extremes only)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mosul, Iraq Travel Weather Averages |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=80604 |access-date=2012-12-19 |publisher=Weatherbase}}</ref>
| date     = October 2014}}

{{clear}}