Peregraf - The Kurdistan Region’s meteorology directorate has warned that a powerful rainstorm is set to intensify across the Region on Tuesday, heightening the risk of rising water levels and flooding.
According to the directorate, rainfall totals across much of the Region have already surpassed last year’s levels at this time-most notably in Duhok province, which has recorded nearly three times more rain than the previous year.
Meteorologists say the storm system will strengthen by Tuesday afternoon, bringing moderate rain, steady drizzle, and intermittent thunderstorms. The weather pattern is forecast to remain active until Wednesday before gradually weakening.
Local administrations in Erbil, Soran, Sulaymaniyah, Raparin, Garmiyan, and Halabja have been urged to take precautionary measures, as significant rainfall is expected across these areas. The warning follows reports of several flooded streets across the Region, where some vehicles were left stranded.
The Garmiyan administration announced that all government institutions under its authority will suspend work on Tuesday due to the anticipated severity of the storm, stating that the decision was made “to protect public safety.” Security and essential service departments are excluded and will remain on emergency duty.
Authorities throughout the Region remain on heightened alert, with low-lying districts expected to experience the most severe impact.
The heavy rainfall arrives at a time when the Kurdistan Region and Iraq are grappling with their worst drought in nearly a century. Water reserves in the country’s dams have fallen below 30 percent, a crisis driven by declining precipitation and water flow restrictions from upstream dams in Turkey and Iran. The prolonged shortages have forced some families-particularly in rural parts of Sulaimani and Duhok-to abandon water-scarce villages.
In response, the government has launched emergency initiatives in both Erbil and Sulaimani aimed at expanding access to potable water and mitigating the long-term effects of the ongoing drought.