Cooler weekend forecast as impact of hot air mass tapers off

AMMAN — A drop in temperatures is forecast for Friday as the impact of a relatively hot air mass eases off, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Thursday.

The relatively hot air mass, which started affecting the country on Wednesday, pushed temperatures four degrees above their annual average of 31ºC during this time of year, according to a JMD meteorologist.

“A drop in mercury levels is expected as of Friday, when the country will be affected by an extension of an upper trough and a moderate air mass,” the weather forecaster said on condition of anonymity.

The weather on Friday will be moderate across the country, relatively hot in the badia and hot in the Jordan Valley and Aqaba, while winds will be northwesterly moderate to brisk, raising dust.

Temperatures will drop to around their annual average, the meteorologist added, noting that mercury levels will reach 32ºC during the daytime in Amman and drop to 17ºC at night.

The impact of the upper trough and moderate air mass will continue to affect the country on Saturday, with fair summer weather prevailing in mountainous areas, while it will be hot in the Jordan Valley and Aqaba, according to the JMD.

Temperatures in the capital will range between a maximum of 32ºC and a minimum of 17ºC, while winds will be northwesterly moderate to brisk, raising dust.

On Sunday, temperatures will start to rise above their annual average as another relatively hot air mass is forecast to affect the country, bringing hot and dry weather, the forecaster said.

The weather will become relatively hot across the Kingdom and hot in the badia, the Jordan Valley and Aqaba, according to the JMD.

Temperatures will climb three degrees above their annual average, with a high of 34ºC and a low of 19ºC expected in Amman, while winds will be northwesterly moderate to brisk.

The JMD has urged the public to avoid direct exposure to sunlight and drink plenty of fluids following iftar during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until after sunset.

Climate charts indicate that there is a 50-60 per cent chance for the Kingdom’s western region and mountainous areas to witness a 0.5ºC increase in the average temperature of 31.8ºC this summer, and a 40-50 per cent chance that desert areas will witness the same increase. 

The charts also indicate a slight possibility for the country to witness heatwaves this summer, with the intensity of hot spells depending on the route of air masses.

Strong heatwaves that push temperatures well above their annual averages usually come from the northeastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, originating from India, according to the JMD.