‘Tuesday to mark winter solstice’

AMMAN — Tuesday, December 22, marks the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the start of marbaniyeh in Jordan — the 40 coldest days of winter, Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) Director General Mohammad Samawi said Saturday, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

During the marbaniyeh — which will continue through January 30 — the country typically witnesses several depressions, while average temperatures in the capital range between a maximum of 12.7ºC and a minimum of 3.8ºC. Multiple depressions, very cold weather, and cold and dry easterly winds are characteristics of marbaniyeh, during which several frost spells take hold of the country due to the around-zero temperatures and very cold easterly winds.