Snow covering large areas in Iraq
Snow covering large areas in Iraq
Iraq has been experiencing a harsh winter in recent days, with the Meteorological Organization and Seismology in the country predicting that temperatures will remain below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) with rain and snow falling across large areas.

While snowfall in the mountainous areas of northern Iraq, such as Sulaymaniyah, seems common every year, it is rare in Anbar province in western Iraq and Kirkuk province in the country's north.

The northern outskirts and southwestern parts of Kirkuk were heavily snow-covered.

Snow also fell in Anbar province's desert areas, and footage posted on social media captured the gorgeous landscapes in various parts of the country.


Residents in western Iraq photographed the snowstorm, which blanketed the desert in white, while many provinces declared school closures due to an exceptionally severe cold wave.

Several Iraqi regions have ordered the cancelation of official school hours on Sunday and Monday owing to the dramatic decrease in temperatures.

The decision included the governorates of Kirkuk, Nineveh, Salah Al-Din, Najaf, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, and Muthanna, as well as Erbil, Dohuk, and Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.