Authorities announce state of maximum alert for expected blizzard

AMMAN — Authorities on Tuesday announced a state of maximum alert in preparation for an expected blizzard, which is forecast to bring heavy rain, snow and freezing temperatures and last until Saturday.

Temperatures this week will be 10-13 degrees below their annual average of 13°C during this time of year, while snowfall is expected in areas located 700 metres above sea level and higher, which includes the capital, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Tuesday.

A very cold polar front accompanied by a depression started affecting the country on Tuesday, with the combined weather conditions expected to be the most severe on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to the JMD.

“The impact of the polar front will continue until Saturday. During this week, there will be heavy precipitation, snow accumulation starting Wednesday afternoon, and snowfall at times on Friday and Saturday,” JMD Director General Mohammad Samawi told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Samawi said the wind speed on Tuesday reached 50 kilometres per hour.

On Wednesday, the weather will be very cold, cloudy and rainy with thunder and hail expected, while snow is expected in areas located 700 metres above sea level and higher, according to JMD.

Winds will be westerly brisk with strong gusts and temperatures will be zero during the day and at night, according to the JMD website.

On Thursday, the weather will be very cold, cloudy and rainy at times, while snow is expected only in high mountainous areas, a JMD statement said, adding that colder wins will blow towards the Middle East that night.

The country will receive heavy rain accompanied by thunder and hail on Thursday night, while snow will start falling again in altitudes of 700 metres above sea level and higher, the department said.

Winds will be westerly brisk with strong gusts and temperatures in Amman will range between 1°C and zero, according to the JMD website.

A further drop in temperatures is expected on Friday, when the weather will very cold and cloudy in all parts of the country, with thunder and hail expected. In addition, snowfall is expected in areas located 700 metres above sea level and higher.

By Friday night, snowfall will gradually decrease in the northern and central regions and remain heavy in the rest of the country, while winds will be westerly to northwesterly brisk.

Mercury levels in the capital will reach a high of -1°C during the day, dropping to a low of -4°C at night.

The extreme weather will prevail on Saturday, when it will be very cold and cloudy with rain at times, with northwesterly moderate to brisk winds. Snow showers are also expected in high mountainous areas.

“The weather will start to stabilise as of Sunday,” Samawi noted.

Blizzard preparations

Meanwhile, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) announced on Tuesday a state of maximum alert in preparation for the expected blizzard.

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, GAM Spokesperson Baker Abbadi said municipality personnel will work around-the-clock in two shifts this week.

“GAM will deal with the expected weather conditions, especially snowfall, via four operations centres in Jubeiha, King Hussein Gardens, Muhajireen and Ras Al Ain, in addition to the main operations room in Tlaa Al Ali,” he added.

GAM will give priority in snow clearance to roads leading to hospitals and health centres, according to Abbadi, who noted that the private sector and the Jordan Contractors Association offered to cooperate with the municipality by providing heavy machinery in case of any shortage.

Abbadi urged the public to cooperate with GAM and to avoid parking their cars on the sides of main and secondary roads in order to enable its vehicles to efficiently clear snow from the streets.

In a related development, the Jordan Engineers Association announced on Tuesday that it will take part in clearing inner roads and highways that might become blocked in cooperation with the concerned authorities. 

GAM said the capital’s residents can call the following numbers in case of emergencies: 06/5359970, 06/5359971 or 0798166789.

Agriculture

The expected freezing temperatures will endanger crops and cattle if farmers don’t take the necessary action, the Ministry of Agriculture warned on Tuesday.

“Farmers must follow the weather forecast to take precautionary measures in case of frost spells,” Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

Farmers in the Jordan Valley should warm up their greenhouses during the day and close them at night to preserve the heat, Haddadin said, adding that when temperatures dip to around zero, they should burn dry grass near the crops and irrigate them slightly to minimise the impact of frost.

“We have contacted the Jordan Valley Authority to increase the amount of irrigation water provided to framers in case the Jordan Valley witnesses frost spells,” he noted.

Water gauges

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday called on households to insulate their water meters.

“In light of the expected freezing temperatures, subscribers must protect their water gauges by wrapping them with burlap or a piece of cloth to protect them from damage,” Water Ministry Spokesperson Omar Salameh said.

In addition, any exposed water pipes should be covered with burlap or rock wool to prevent freezing temperatures from damaging them, according Salameh, who noted that subscribers will incur the repair costs if their meters are damaged.

The ministry also urged households to refrain from connecting their drainage pipes to manholes on the street, saying the practice is placing additional pressure on the sewage system and causing manholes to flood.
Salameh said the public can contact the main control centre at the Water Authority of Jordan at 08002214 or 06/5100180.