10-degree temperature drop forecast for weekend

AMMAN — Daytime temperatures on Friday will drop by 10 degrees as the impact of a hot air mass that pushed temperatures eight degrees above their annual average recedes, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Thursday.

The country will be affected on Friday by a “fair” air mass which will cause temperatures to drop below their annual average of 28ºC during this time of year, the JMD said.

“The impact of the fair air mass is expected to continue until Sunday, during which period the weather will be partly cloudy and pleasant,” a JMD meteorologist said.

On Friday, the weather will be fair in most areas of the country and moderate in Aqaba and the Jordan Valley. Low-altitude clouds are expected in the northern and central regions.

Temperatures in Amman will range between a high of 26ºC during the day and a low of 15ºC at night, while winds will be northwesterly moderate to brisk.

Fair and partly cloudy weather is expected on Saturday, when winds will be westerly to northwesterly moderate to brisk.

Temperatures in the capital will reach a maximum of 27ºC and drop to a minimum of 15ºC, according to the JMD.

A slight rise in temperatures is forecast for Sunday, when the weather will be moderate in most parts of the country and relatively hot in Aqaba and the Jordan Valley.

In Amman, temperatures will range between a high of 28ºC and a low of 16ºC, while winds will be northwesterly moderate, turning to northeasterly slow at night.

A hot air mass that started affecting the country on Tuesday brought strong, dusty winds on Thursday.

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, the Public Security Department urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving on desert roads, including the Rweished-Safawi, Muwaqqar, Gharandal-Dead Sea and all external roads to and from Mafraq.

The Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) announced a state of emergency on Thursday due to the hot weather, according to another statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

The JVA increased the amount of irrigation water supplied to farmers to reduce the impact of the high temperatures on crops in the region, where temperatures reached over 42ºC on Thursday.