‘Rise in temperatures forecast as depression effect ends’

AMMAN — A weak depression that affected the Kingdom on Wednesday brought rainfall to several areas, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said. 

The head of JMD’s forecast department, Raed Rafed, said Ajloun, 70km northwest of Amman, received the largest amount of rainfall.

The meteorologist told The Jordan Times that the depression came to an end Wednesday night and temperatures are forecast to increase in the coming days. 

Temperatures in the capital will range between a high of 19°C and a low of 10°C on Thursday, he noted.

Rafed said temperatures in the capital are forecast to increase further on Friday, ranging between a high of 20°C and a low of 10°C.

He noted that several spells of unstable weather and khamsini depressions, which bring rain, are expected to this spring. 

The name is derived from khamsin — meaning 50 in Arabic — because it usually occurs during a 50-day time frame, from March 21 through May 10. 

Khamsini weather conditions affect the eastern part of the Mediterranean an average of once a week during this period, according to JMD.

The hot, sand-laden winds, originating from the Atlas Mountains in north Africa, annually move east of the Mediterranean Sea around this time of year and are usually preceded by unseasonably high temperatures, and dry and dusty conditions.

Health experts advise the public to take precautionary measures during this period, as allergy cases and respiratory system infections increase, particularly due to pollen grains and dust.

Rafed stressed that Wednesday’s depression was not part of khamsini weather conditions.