Expected frost prompts alert as polar front tapers off

AMMAN — The polar depression that has hit Jordan since Wednesday started to subside Sunday afternoon, but the expected frost prompted authorities to impose a curfew, with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour appealing to people to stay at home Sunday night and Monday morning to avoid accidents.

The weather is forecast to remain "cold" and "very cold" during day and night over this week, Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) Director General Mohammad Samawi told The Jordan Times.

The polar front brought snow and rain around the Kingdom last week, with heavy snowfall resuming late Saturday.

The weather will remain cold until Wednesday, with frost formation expected in most areas in the Kingdom, Samawi said.

He urged the public to follow the instructions of the Civil Defence Department (CDD) and other concerned agencies, calling on people not to leave their houses before 10am to ensure their safety. 

The starting hour of the official working day Monday was delayed till 11am.

Temperatures around the Kingdom on Monday are forecast to range between a high of 2C° to 13C° and a low of -1C° to -5C°, according to the JMD.

Commenting on the possibility of a new polar front affecting the Kingdom later this week, Samawi said the department’s devices did not detect signs that can be taken as positive confirmation, noting that “long-term prediction usually lacks accuracy”.

He added that other international meteorological departments have not forecast another blizzard in Jordan and the JMD will warn the public if any blizzards or polar fronts are indeed expected.

Samawi told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that current information points to a “weak depression” that might affect the Kingdom on Tuesday and continue until Thursday.

The Greater Amman Municipality said on Sunday that all main roads in the capital were open after the resumption of snowfall had blocked some streets.

During a visit to CDD, Ensour urged people to finish all their businesses outside early and stay inside, while the Interior Ministry set 6pm Sunday to 9:30am Monday as curfew time, Petra reported.