Baghdad covered in snow for second time this century

Baghdad woke up covered in a thin layer of snow this morning for only the second time this century, and the first in over ten years.

Snow falls in Baghdad for first time in over a decade https://t.co/pcbviqk1AE pic.twitter.com/52niQtzRYN

— CTV News (@CTVNews) February 11, 2020

Pictures and videos show young people enjoying snowball fights, and photoshoots, while some residents used the rare opportunity to make snowmen. Many said, via Twitter, this is the first time they have ever seen snow.

https://twitter.com/sana_ist90/status/1227154106269171714

https://twitter.com/NadiaFayidh/status/1227156491783811072

The last recorded snowfall in the city was in 2008, prior to which, Baghdad had not seen snow in over a century. The city’s palm trees were dusted in white this morning, and the long-standing protest camp in Tahrir square was sprinkled in snow.

It’s a rare sight, Snow in Baghdad!! pic.twitter.com/MsXJwSUeKi

— Ebo (@Uncleebotv) February 11, 2020

Media Head of the Iraqi Meteorological Centre, Amer Al-Jaberi, said: “Snowfall may continue until Wednesday given the very cold weather”, adding that “this cold wave came from Europe.”

ثلوج في ابو غريب – وعلى شرط سلو موشن 🙂

https://t.co/bNdudABkIa

— Maan Habib – معن حبيب (@TheMaanHabib) February 11, 2020

The people of Baghdad are more used to heat than cold, with temperatures reaching an all-time high of 51 degrees Celsius on 21 July 2016.

Hello! ❄️Morning #Snow: Mother Nature. 🎶 “Mawtini” (My Homeland): @USArmy Sgt. Brenda Bushera. 🇮🇶 Enjoy! #Baghdad Roj baş ✌🏽 شاكو ماكو؟ صباح مثلج أمنا الطبيعة! "نشيد موطني" غناء العريف في الجيش الأمريكي بريندا بوشيرا pic.twitter.com/9Nx0p6hjko

— OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) February 11, 2020

The Shia holy city of Karbala was also covered in snow this morning, with videos showing falling flakes at the Imam Hussein Mosque.

#Karbala_Snow Snow saluting OWNERS OF UNIVRSE IMAM HUSSAIN A.S and ABUL FAZAL AL ABBAS A.S 😭❤ pic.twitter.com/NEiKWKGIYA

— A.J Karbalaie (@JA_Karbalaie) February 11, 2020

– SNOW IN KARBALA. 🌨💚 pic.twitter.com/kzKZCgurFm

— Hussعn (@Hussain_asger72) February 11, 2020

Iraq is prone to natural disasters as a result of extreme weather events, after water shortages in 2018 sparked a health crisis in the centre and south. The following year, however, heavy rains caused flooding and catastrophic damage to homes and arable farming.

Long time since the last snow ❄️ In Baghdad #Baghdad_Snowing pic.twitter.com/JMc9PL8nzW

— Sultan A. Alzangana (@sultan90ah) February 11, 2020

The snow comes as light relief from protests which have swept the country since 1 October 2019 and left nearly 700 dead.

Snow in Baghdad pic.twitter.com/YVOvLWx2e1

— Aryan brzo al Jaff (@brzo_al) February 11, 2020

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