Cold air mass expected to bring this year’s ‘first heavy rain’

AMMAN — The country will be affected by a depression accompanied by a cold air mass on Sunday expected to bring the “first heavy rain” since last December, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

The combined weather condition is expected to cause a drop in temperatures and bring heavy rain, thunder and hail, a JMD meteorologist said on Saturday, adding that its impact will continue prevailing until Tuesday.

Temperatures on Sunday will drop by seven degrees compared to Saturday, when the maximum reached 27°C, nine degrees above the annual average of 18°C during this time of the year.

It will be cloudy and temperatures in Amman will range between a high of 20°C and a low of 7°C, the weather forecaster said.

“Rain will start falling in the south of the Kingdom on Sunday morning. By the afternoon hours, the central and northern regions will start receiving rain, which will be heavy and accompanied by thunder,” he added.

Southwesterly moderate to brisk winds on Sunday will change to westerly brisk in the afternoon, according to the JMD.

A further drop in mercury levels is forecast for Monday, when the weather will be relatively cold and partly cloudy, with a chance for scattered showers during the day in the northern and southern regions.

Temperatures in the capital will range between a maximum of 16°C and minimum of 7°C, while winds will be northwesterly moderate, turning to southwesterly at night, according to the meteorologist.

The weather will remain relatively cold and partly cloudy on Tuesday, with chances of light rain during the night in the northern and central regions. Winds will be northeasterly to northwesterly moderate to brisk, while temperatures will rise 17°C during the day, dropping to 7°C at night in Amman.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom witnessed heavy dust on Friday and Saturday, which reduced road visibility, especially in the southern and eastern regions.

Despite the dusty weather, which was caused by sand-laden southeasterly moderate to brisk winds, the desert road, which links Amman with the southern region, was open to traffic, according to the Public Security Department (PSD).

“Traffic movement is normal on the desert road and across the east and south of country,” an officer at the PSD press office told The Jordan Times.

Royal Jordanian (RJ) also said that air traffic at Queen Alia international Airport was unaffected by the dusty weather.

“No flights were diverted or delayed due to the dust,” RJ Media Office Director Basel Kilani told The Jordan Times over the phone.