Iran issues widespread storm and flood warnings across 13 provinces

Iran's Meteorological Organization issued orange and yellow alerts for heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, dust storms and unusually high sea waves in the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. The warnings cover a period from June 12 to June 17 and affect 13 provinces, including West and East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, Tehran, Alborz, Qazvin, Zanjan, Markazi, Qom, Semnan, as well as coastal provinces such as Bushehr, Hormozgan, Khuzestan and surrounding areas.

The forecasts call for flash floods, river rise, landslides, damage to temporary structures, agricultural losses and reduced visibility due to dust. In the maritime zones, wave heights of up to 1.8 m near the coast and over 2.4 m offshore are expected, raising the risk of swimmer drownings, fishing‑net damage, disruption to shipping, offshore oil‑platform operations and any light‑to‑medium‑weight vessels. Authorities advise avoiding travel near rivers, limiting mountain‑climbing and agricultural spraying, cancelling recreational and fishing activities, and preparing emergency services for possible damage.

Precautionary measures include restricting non‑essential traffic on vulnerable roads, using protective masks in dusty areas, securing temporary structures and advertising boards, and monitoring weather developments closely.