Summer comes early for Iraq with 49 degrees Celsius in Basra

Summer comes early for Iraq with 49 degrees Celsius in Basra

BAGHDAD — Summer has come early for Iraq this year, with temperatures hitting 49 degrees Celsius (topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern city of Basra on Thursday, the national weather center said. "It is the highest temperature recorded in Iraq this year," weather center spokesperson Amer al-Jabiri told AFP. He said the early heat was in contrast to last year when the temperature was "relatively good" in May and "it only began to rise …