Authorities urge caution as strong winds bring dust to Kingdom

AMMAN — The Public Security Department’s (PSD) media centre on Tuesday urged motorists to exercise caution when driving, especially on desert roads, due to dust and the low visibility under the prevailing weather conditions. 

The PSD also called on motorists to follow the directions of police officers stationed on the highways to provide help.

Meanwhile, an official at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) told The Jordan Times that no flight delays were reported until 10pm on Tuesday, adding that flights were operating as usual.

The official at the QAIA information department said a flight that was heading to Cairo, Egypt, returned to Amman due to a sandstorm that hit the North African country. 

The Civil Defence Department also urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly on desert roads due to low visibility. 

The country is expected to be affected by a cold air mass and a depression this week, forecast to bring strong winds, rain and snow, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD). 

The cold air mass and depression, which will centre over south of Turkey, will prevail until Saturday morning, JMD Director General Mohammad Samawi said on Monday.

“The combined weather conditions will bring light to medium snow to the northern governorates [Ajloun and Jerash] on Wednesday and Thursday, and light snow to the central region [Greater Amman and Balqa] and the southern region [Shobak, Karak and Aqaba],” Samawi told The Jordan Times.

The Agriculture Ministry has called on farmers to take precautionary measures to deal with the expected weather conditions and possible frost formation after the cold air mass to safeguard their crops.