ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region is forecasted to see a wave of the year's first nationwide rainfall and thunderstorms from Saturday evening to Monday.
In a detailed report, the Kurdistan Region's meteorology department announced on Thursday a nationwide rainfall is forecasted, with Erbil province's northern mountainous town of Mergasor expected to see nearly 90 millimeters of rainfall, and other parts of the Region to experience between 25-70 millimeters.
According to the announcement, the rainfall will be sweeping through the Kurdistan Region on Saturday evening, leading to temperature degrees to drop below 10 degrees Celsius.
Luqman Mufti, a meteorologist, told Rudaw that it will rain enough for planting and cultivating.
He said "this rainfall is very good for the forests," and will save many trees from drying out. "They will revive."
Iraq is suffering under the “extreme” impact of climate change as it endured its hottest and driest year in nearly a century.
The World Resources Institute lists Iraq among 25 countries facing “extreme water stress,” meaning it uses over 80 percent of its available water resources - making it highly vulnerable to drought.
The Kurdistan Region's Sulaimani and Duhok provinces are under the highest drought pressure and the risks and effects of climate change will be more pronounced in the next decade, according to the institute.
Iraq is experiencing its worst drought since 1933, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative warned in early August.