Moist spring forecast, along with dusty and unstable ‘khamsini’ weather phenomenon

AMMAN — Seasonal climate charts indicate that rainfall during March, April and May will be around, or higher than the annual average, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

There is a 60 per cent chance that precipitation during spring will reach or exceed the annual average, while temperatures over the three months are 70 per cent likely to be 0.7ºC higher than the annual average, JMD Director Mohammad Samawi said on Tuesday.

“Based on readings of the weather charts, we expect the performance of what remains of the wet season to be good. Rain should be around the average across the country, and higher than the annual average in the eastern and southern regions,” Samawi noted.

Although winter ends later this month, ushering in spring in the northern hemisphere, the country is expected to witness multiple depressions and relatively cold air masses which could bring significant rainfall, according to the JMD, which noted that the wet season usually ends in May.

“The performance of the wet season cannot be completely determined until at least the end of April,” Samawi noted.

The start of spring in Jordan is accompanied by the start of the khamsini weather phenomenon, during which dusty weather and unstable weather conditions prevail.

The name is derived from khamsin — meaning 50 in Arabic — because it usually occurs over 50 days, from March 21 until May 10. Khamsini weather conditions affect the eastern Mediterranean area for an average of one day per week during this period, according to the JMD.

The country has been witnessing unstable weather since Friday, particularly dust, brisk winds, heavy rain and thunder.

A change in weather is again forecast for Wednesday, when it will be relatively cold and partly cloudy during the day, turning cloudy in the afternoon. Rain is expected later in the afternoon in the northern region, moving to the central and southern parts of the country by the evening.

Temperatures during the day will be 15ºC, dropping to 6ºC at night in Amman.

 A drop in temperatures is expected on Thursday, when the weather will remain relatively cold and cloudy, with showers in the northern and central parts of the country.

Daytime temperatures will be 14ºC, dropping to 7ºC by nightfall.

Sunny weather is expected for the weekend, when temperatures will be slightly higher, according to the JMD, which said that the weather will be relatively cold in the mountains and fair across the country, with slight showers expected in the north.

Temperatures will range between a high of 16ºC and a low of 8ºC in Amman.