Sand and dust storms, which have engulfed the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province for several days, will increase in intensity and persist at least until `Friday.
Speaking to local news website Asrehamoon.ir, chief provincial meteorologist, Reza Faraji, said, “We forecast windy conditions for Thursday and Friday, which mean dust storms will persist.”
He said wind speed is expected to peak at 80 kilometers per hour.
Faraji said dust storms will hit northern and eastern regions of the province.
Particulate matters have made life in Iran’s south and southwestern provinces nearly unbearable.
Most of the sources of dust storms, which have become more frequent and intense recently, are located in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria, but domestic sources, including the desiccated wetlands such as Hoor al-Azim in Khuzestan and Hamouns in Sistan-Baluchestan, have made a bad situation worse.
Jazmourian and Hamoun wetlands in southeastern Iran have become major sources of sand and dust storms in the entire country, with the former reportedly contributing to 25% of all dust storm emissions originating in Iran and the latter almost single-handedly responsible for Sistan’s struggle with the phenomenon.
Excessive dam construction, depletion of groundwater resources, declining precipitation and global warming have exacerbated the region’s plight by expanding dust storm hotspots.
