Amman, June 28 (Petra) -- Jordan has commenced the construction of an advanced Doppler weather radar in the Al-Heisha area of the southern Ma'an Governorate, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Sunday.

The strategic initiative, which aims to strengthen the kingdom's meteorological monitoring and climate early warning capabilities, was inspected by JMD director Raed Al Khattab.

During the site visit, Al Khattab held coordination meetings with Ma'an Governor Khaled Al-Hajjaj, Chairman of the Ma'an Provincial Council Mousa Al-Shalabi, Shobak Mayor Mohammad Al-Naimat, and Shobak District Officer Ghazi Abu Qaoud to streamline local technical cooperation.

Al Khattab said the project is backed by the government with direct oversight from Transport Minister Nidal Al-Qatamin. He noted that the new Doppler system ranks among the most advanced weather radars globally and will significantly expand tracking coverage across Jordan's southern regions.

Once operational, the facility will be integrated with the existing weather radar in Abu Alanda to establish a comprehensive, nationwide radar network. This integrated system will improve the real-time detection of severe and volatile weather phenomena, enabling faster early warnings to protect lives and infrastructure.

The project is estimated to take approximately 18 months to complete, with full deployment and operational readiness projected for the beginning of 2028.

Governor Al-Hajjaj affirmed the full support of local and municipal authorities for the project, describing it as a vital national asset that will elevate the kingdom's preparedness against severe weather risks and climate emergencies.

//Petra// AF