Rain, dust storms reported in several areas around Jordan

AMMAN — The Jordan Metrological Department (JMD) registered light rain in Tafileh, Qatraneh, Karak and Zarqa’s Duleil areas between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday as a result of unstable weather conditions currently affecting the Kingdom, according to a JMD official.

Medium- and high-altitude thunder clouds were formed on Sunday afternoon, bringing dust-laden winds across the Kingdom and light rain, especially in the southeastern and eastern parts of the country, in addition to Amman, Raed Al Khattab, head of the JMD’s weather forecasting section, said.

“These areas witnessed severe dust and low visibility,” Khattab told The Jordan Times, adding that there was zero visibility in Safawi, while visibility in Qatraneh did not exceed 400 metres, and the desert road had low visibility.

Northern Ghor, Shobak and Aqaba on Sunday had good visibility ranges, but dust at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) partially stopped aviation movement, he noted, expecting the same conditions to prevail on Monday.

“Similar weather conditions with thunderstorms are expected to prevail in the eastern parts of the country and Amman starting from the afternoon until late at night on Monday,” the forecaster said.

Temperatures in Amman are expected to reach 41°C, Khattab added, noting that the highest temperature ever recorded in Amman was 43.5°C on August 20, 2010.

“During Monday night, weather conditions will improve,” the JMD official said, noting that the northwestern parts of the Kingdom will be less affected by the unstable conditions due to the topography of the area.

The high temperatures in Amman are expected to continue on Tuesday, but not beyond the record of 43.5°C, Khattab noted.

Three Royal Jordanian (RJ) airplanes on Sunday had to divert their course from QAIA to King Hussein International Airport due to low visibility on the airport’s runway, RJ Spokesperson Basel Kilani told The Jordan Times.

“These flights will return to Amman once the weather is good enough for the planes to land safely at the airport,” Kilani said.

Some RJ flights were delayed over visibility issues, he added, without giving a number of the delayed trips due to continuous changes.

Corporate Communications Director at QAIA Zahiah Naasan also said that there were slight delays in the arrival and departure times of some flights due to a “sandstorm” that hit the airport.

“Some landing planes were diverted to other airports in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and King Hussein International Airport [in Aqaba], by decisions from their captains,” Naasan said.

She added that at around 4pm on Sunday there was a sandstorm at the airport, with five planes waiting to land, and once the storm passed, they landed safely. 

The delay, according to the airport official, did not exceed 20 minutes.

“The airport is fully operational with minor delays in the landing and taking off of aircraft,” she stressed, adding that passengers can check flight schedules with the airport round-the-clock by calling 06/4010250 or via QAIA’s social media outlets.

The Public Security Department (PSD) on Sunday called on motorists to exercise caution while driving, leave enough space between vehicles, use the low beam lights during the day due to low visibility and avoid high speeds.

The PSD also said that in case of emergency, people can call 911 for help. 

Also on Sunday, Zarqa Governor Adel Rousan decided to suspend traffic movement on the Azraq-Omari road due to dust and low visibility, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He said traffic movement will resume once the current weather conditions improve.