Lower temperatures, rainy weather forecast this week

AMMAN — Temperatures are forecast to drop throughout this week, with relatively cold and partly cloudy weather expected during the day and chances of rainfall during the night in several areas around Jordan, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said Monday.

JMD Director General Mohammad Samawi said light rainfall is expected on Tuesday, with a maximum temperature of 17°C and a minimum of 9°C in the capital. 

In Aqaba, mercury levels will range between a high of 25°C and a low of 17°C, Samawi said, warning of dust-laden winds in desert areas and the badia region.

Temperatures around the Kingdom witnessed a decrease on Monday, reaching around 16°C in Amman, he added.

Samawi told The Jordan Times that Monday morning's rainfall was not heavy.

But in Northern Shuneh District, 13 homes were flooded on Monday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Irbid Governor Saad Shihab as saying.

The rainfall also closed the road linking the northern, central and southern areas of the Jordan Valley for an hour before it was opened by personnel from the ministries of public works and municipalities, Shihab said, noting that the Social Development Department and the National Aid Fund will provide aid to the affected homeowners.

Samawi said temperatures are expected to remain stable until Thursday, with chances of rainfall continuing in the capital and the governorates. 

The JMD also warned of flood formation in valleys and low-lying areas, in addition to low visibility in hilly areas due to fog, Petra reported.

Jordan Valley Authority Secretary General Saad Abu Hammour said storage in the Kingdom's major dams currently stands at around 45 per cent (146 million cubic metres) of their total capacity of 325mcm.

Maj. Jalal Rahahleh, director of public relations at the Central Traffic Department, told The Jordan Times around 200 traffic accidents were recorded until Monday afternoon, noting that 70 cars broke down on the road.