Aqaba sets September temperature record

AMMAN — On Friday, Aqaba registered the second-highest temperature globally, reaching 48.2°C, according to OGIMET.com, an international weather forecast data website.

The highest temperature recorded was 48.9°C in Umm Al Rashrash in Palestine, according to the website.

“The temperatures registered on Friday noon in the Kingdom are the highest in September in all climate records”, said Osama Tarifi, operations director at ArabiaWeather.

Meanwhile, Tarifi also said temperatures in Amman reached 42°C and 43°C, while in Aqaba they hiked up to 47°C and 48°C, which have never been recorded before in September, emphasising the severity of the heatwave. 

The Miyahuna Water Company reported that recurrent power outages due to high temperatures disrupted water distribution in the capital, halting pumping.

Many citizens have complained on social media that power outages have left them to fight the heatwave without fans or air conditioning. 

Images also circulated on social media of street signs and cones melting from the scorching heat.

Temperatures in Amman are forecast to reach a high of 41°C and a low of 27°C on Sunday and Tuesday, while on Monday they are forecast to range between 42°C and 27°C, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department. 

In Aqaba, the weather remains very hot as temperatures are forecast on Sunday to range between 45°C and 30°C, hovering between 46°C and 30°C on Monday, and 45°C and 30°C on Tuesday.