Amman, Jan. 12 (Petra) -- A deepening low-pressure system is driving a spell of very cold and unstable weather across the Kingdom, with heavy rain, strong winds, and a heightened risk of flash floods expected from Monday night into Tuesday.
Temperatures are set to edge down on Monday, keeping conditions cold in most areas and relatively mild in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba. Low clouds will cover northern and central regions, while active southwesterly winds are forecast to raise dust in desert areas.
Conditions will deteriorate overnight as the low, centered over Cyprus, moves closer. The weather will turn very cold and increasingly cloudy, with rain spreading from the north into central regions. Downpours are expected at times, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, raising the risk of flash floods in valleys and low-lying areas. Rain may extend late at night to limited parts of the southwestern regions, while strong westerly winds are expected to gust at 60–70 km/h.
The Jordan Meteorological Department warned of flash flooding overnight in northern and central regions, including the northern and central Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea area. Warnings also include strong winds and dangerous gusts, reduced visibility from dust in desert areas, and poor nighttime visibility due to fog and low clouds over high terrain. Motorists were urged to watch for slippery roads, secure loose objects, and avoid crossing flooded valleys.
By early Tuesday, the system is expected to intensify further as a very cold polar air mass moves in. Temperatures will drop sharply, winds will strengthen, and the weather will remain very cold, cloudy, and rainy across northern and central regions and parts of the east and southwest. Heavy rain is likely at intervals, with thunderstorms and hail in some areas. Light snow is possible over high mountain peaks, at times mixed with rain, with limited accumulation expected over the high southern mountains of Al-Sharah. Westerly winds may gust at 70–80 km/h, triggering dust storms in desert and badia areas, while rainfall gradually weakens later in the evening.
A slight rise in temperatures is expected on Wednesday, though cold conditions will persist. Scattered light rain may continue in northern and central areas and parts of the southwest before weather conditions gradually stabilize by evening. Another modest temperature increase is forecast on Thursday, with cold and foggy mornings, low clouds, and milder conditions in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba under moderate northwesterly winds.
Temperatures on Monday are forecast to range from 13 to 4 degrees Celsius in eastern Amman and from 11 to 2 degrees in western Amman. The northern highlands are expected to record temperatures of 9 to 2 degrees, while the Al-Sharah highlands will range between 10 and 1 degree.
Desert areas will see temperatures of 15 to 3 degrees, plains 13 to 4 degrees, the northern Jordan Valley 19 to 7 degrees, and the southern Jordan Valley 21 to 12 degrees. The Dead Sea will record around 20 to 11 degrees, while Aqaba is forecast to range between 23 and 10 degrees Celsius.
//Petra// RZ
