GAM issues alert ahead of ‘extreme conditions’ forecast for today

Amman — Authorities on Tuesday announced a state of maximum alert to deal with weather-related emergencies, as freezing temperatures, heavy rain and snow are expected throughout the day.

Education directors in several governorates and districts on Tuesday also delayed classes in public and private schools for today due to the weather conditions, according to Petra.

A very cold air mass and a depression, centred over Cyprus, started affecting the country as of noon on Tuesday. The combined weather conditions brought temperatures well below their annual average for this time of year by 6-8oC, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

Chilly weather and strong winds, expected to exceed 80kmph, are forecast, according to the JMD, which indicated that snow is expected for elevations 900m above sea level.

“Snow will fall on Tuesday night in mountainous areas, and as colder winds blow, areas located 900m above sea level and higher will also witness snowfall during the late hours of Tuesday night,” head of the JMD’s weather forecast section Raed Rafed told The Jordan Times.

Snowfall may also vary from one area to another and range from 3-12cm in west Amman, depending on the location, Rafed said, adding that snow should continue falling in higher altitude areas until noon today.

In preparation for the extreme weather, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) announced on Tuesday a state of maximum alert.

The municipality urged the public to call its main emergency response rooms for any weather emergency at 06/5359970, 06/5359971 or 0798166789.

The municipality has also put 200 of its workers in the agricultural department on stand-by to deal with fallen branches and trees during the expected weather conditions. 

According to the GAM, workers were distributed into 14 teams and will be working to handle cases of fallen trees and broken branches on sidewalks, streets and parks, the official noted.

The GAM also reminded households to insulate their water metres in light of the expected freezing temperatures by wrapping them with burlap or a piece of cloth.

In addition, any exposed water pipes should be covered with burlap or rock wool to prevent freezing temperatures from damaging them, according Salameh, who noted that subscribers will incur the repair costs if their metres are damaged.

The ministry also urged households to “refrain from connecting their drainage pipes to manholes on the street, as the practice places additional pressure on the sewage system and causes manholes to flood”, a municipal official said on Tuesday.

The GAM urged people living in low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground, and called on the public to remove objects from their rooftops and yards that can be blown away by strong winds.

The weather should stabilise tonight, according to the JMD, which cautioned people of frost and slippery roads at night and on Thursday.

Daytime temperatures in Amman will be 5oC, dropping to -1oC at night.

A slight rise in mercury levels is forecast for Thursday and Friday, but the weather will remain cold, according to the JMD. 

The GAM said that a total of 300 pieces of machinery, including snow sweepers and loaders, are ready to deal with weather-related emergencies.

The municipality urged people to avoid parking their cars on the sides of streets to avoid hampering efforts of clearing snow off the roads and to prevent their damage as machinery clears snow.

In addition, the GAM called on people to avoid tunnels and bridges during snowfall and to avoid slippery roads.