Kingdom braces for cold, rainy weekend, possible snow

AMMAN — Most areas in the Kingdom are expected to witness very cold and rainy weather conditions on Friday, which may be accompanied by thunder and lightning, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) forecast on Thursday. 

In the evening, the country will likely be affected by a cold air mass, with snowfall expected in the northern, central and southern mountainous areas whose altitude is over 1,000 metres above sea level, according to a JMD statement.

Gradual snowfall is forecast at night in areas with altitude of 800 to 900 metres above sea level, accompanied by northwesterly brisk winds that may reach a speed of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour.

Temperatures in the eastern neighbourhoods of the capital will range between 9ºC during the day and 1ºC at night, while the western areas will witness a high of 7ºC and a low of 0ºC, the JMD said.

On Saturday, a drop in temperature is forecast, with very cold conditions, the JMD added, expecting scattered showers in most parts of the Kingdom and intermittent snowfall over areas with altitudes of more than 900 metres above sea level.

The effect of the depression is forecast to gradually dissipate by evening, with a chance of snowfall on areas located 1,100 metres above the sea level, especially in the southern region. 

The JMD warned of frost formation at night.

Mercury levels on Saturday are expected to range between a high of 6°C and a low of -1°C in eastern Amman, while temperatures in western neighbourhoods of the capital will be 4°C during the day, dropping to -1°C at night, according to the JMD.

On Thursday, Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab held a meeting with the crisis management team and called on its members to ensure readiness to activate emergency plans if weather conditions necessitate such procedures.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Hatem Azrui said the ministry’s emergency centre will be receiving calls around the clock on: 06/5062919, 06/5065768 and 0797485846, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Thursday announced the state of maximum alert to deal with extreme weather conditions.

Basem Tarawneh, deputy director for districts and environmental affairs at GAM, said the municipality authorised district directors to rent any necessary vehicles and heavy equipment, in addition to what GAM has, to deal with the weather conditions.

He added that residents can report emergencies to the municipality on (06/5359970) or (06/5359971), Petra reported.

Water Ministry Spokesperson Omar Salameh said Minister Hazem Nasser has directed all technical cadres to follow the necessary procedures in such conditions.

Salameh called on citizens not to connect drain pipes to sewage networks and to wrap water meters to protect them from frost, noting that any damages to the meters are the responsibility of the subscribers who will incur the cost of any repairs resulting from weather conditions, according to Petra.

The public can report complaints or emergencies on the number 117116, he announced.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Khaled Hneifat urged all agriculture directors across the Kingdom to prepare plans to help farmers under the expected weather conditions. 

The ministry’s operations room can be reached on 06/5341116, 06/5342752, 06/5683911 and 0798672222.

Jordan Phosphate Mines Company Chief Executive Officer Shafiq Ashqar called on directors of mines at production sites to put their vehicles at the disposal of administrative governors during the forecast weather conditions, Petra reported. 

Also on Thursday, the Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO) said it is ready to deal with the weather conditions.

EDCO urged its subscribers to report power disruptions around the clock on 06/5001370 or the free line 080022288.

Subscribers can also call emergency rooms in Karak on 03/2387219, in Tafileh on 03/2241004, Maan: 03/2132308, Wadi Musa: 03/2156050, Aqaba: 03/2012458, Deir Alla: 05/3573111, Azraq: 05/3835121, Southern Shuneh: 05/3581135 and Northern Shuneh: 02/6587098.