Downpour, snow to usher in first day of 2016

AMMAN — Downpour and snow are forecast on Friday as the impact of a "very cold" polar front is expected to deepen, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Thursday.

The polar front, which started affecting the Kingdom on Thursday blowing from Eastern Europe, will cause temperatures to drop on Friday eight degrees below their annual average of 13ºC during this time of the year, a JMD meteorologist said.

"A tangible drop in mercury levels is expected on Friday. The weather will be very cold, cloudy and rainy with thunder, lightning and hail also expected. Strong gusty winds are also forecast reaching 60-70 kilometres per hour," the forecaster told The Jordan Times.

Snow is expected on Friday, he said, underscoring that areas 1,000 metres above sea level and higher are expected to witness accumulating snow, while areas 800 metres above sea level will start seeing snow by nightfall.

Tlaa Al Ali, Rabiah, Jubeiha, Khalda, University of Jordan area, Dahiyat Al Rashid, Sweileh and Um Al Summaq are among the capital's areas located 1,000 metres above sea level, while Arjan, the Sports City area, Shmeisani, Dahiyat Al Amir Rashid, Um Uthainah, Jabal Hussein, Abdoun, Jabal Luweibdeh, Bayader, Sweifieh, Marj Al Hamam, Shafa Badran, Naour and Jabal Amman are all areas located between 800 and 1,000 metres above sea level, according to an unofficial chart.

"Snow accumulation is expected to range between 10-12 centimetres, depending on the altitude of the area," the meteorologist said.

Temperatures on the first day of the New Year will be 5ºC during the day, dropping to zero at nighttime in the capital, according to the JMD. 

Another slight drop in temperatures is expected on Saturday as the Kingdom remains under the impact of the polar front, according to the JMD, which said that the weather will be very cold, cloudy and rainy, with snowfall expected in high mountains.

"By Saturday night, snowfall and rain will gradually stop, while freezing temperatures are forecast across the Kingdom," the weather forecaster said.

Daytime temperatures on Saturday will be 4ºC, dropping to -1ºC at night in Amman and winds will be northwesterly moderate, turning at night to southwesterly moderate, according to the JMD.

Cold and partly cloudy weather is forecast for Sunday, when the JMD expects ice formation in the morning hours across the country.

Winds will be southwesterly moderate and temperatures will be 7ºC during the day, dropping at night to -1ºC in the capital, according to the JMD.