Jordan Climate Overview
The climate in
Jordan is predominantly of the Mediterranean type. Hot and dry summer and cool
wet winter with two short transitional periods in Autumn and Spring.
During these short transitional periods most convective activity occurs
producing thunderstorms.
Precipitation pattern is both latitude and altitude dependent. Rainfall
decreases from North to South, West to East and from higher elevation to lower
ones.
During the rain season most significant precipitation is orographic resulting
from the passage of frontal Depressions across the Mediterranean near Cyprus.
The frequency of depressions moving into the central Mediterranean 49/year 21-27
move eastward.
Four climatic region are distinguishable in Jordan:
1- The Ghor ( Jordan rift valley ):
The climate of Ghor is classified as tropical. It is very hot in summer and Warm
in winter. The annual rainfall 150-250mm. The elevation of the Ghor is below
M.S.L. ranging from 200 to 400 meters. Its width is about 15 km In the North to
30 km in the South.
2- The Mountainous (Hilly) Region:
Lies to the east of the Ghor extending from North to South . Its elevation
varies From 750m to 1200m with some tops exceeding 1700m. The climate of these
Regions is rather mild in summer and cold in winter, the amount of rainfall
ranges from 300–600mm/year. Snowfall occur over the mountains
3- The Badia Region:
It is a plateau that lies to the east of the high lands with elevation varies
from 600-700m. it is characterized by dry hot summer and relatively cold dry
winter the amount of rainfall 40-100 mm/year.
4- The Aqaba Gulf:
Characterized by very hot summer and warm winter the amount of rainfall <50mm
per year.
Jordan is located
80 kilometers east of the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Its location
between 29° 11'N and 33° 22'N, and between 34° 19' E and 39° 18'E with an area
of 89329 km2, more than 80% is classified as arid areas.
The Badia lies at the eastern and most of the southern parts of the country and
a range of mountains in the eastern side of Jordan River whose length is 330km
in a valley of only 104km length. The mountains vary in elevation from 1250m in
the North, to 900m in the middle and 1700m in the south. The Jordan rift valley
which is also called the Ghor is totally below sea level varying from 200m in
the north to 400m in the south. The Dead Sea is the absolute lowest area in the
world (408m below MSL).
Jordan depends
mainly on precipitation within the country. Average rainfall ranges from
600mm/years in the north to less than 50mm/year in the south.
The rainy season is between October and May. 80% of the annual rainfall occurs
through December to March .Our records shows a slight decrease in precipitation
beyond the rainy season 1970/1971 except the rainy season 1991/1992 which was
the highest in the last 75 years. Last 5 years Jordan had a very variables rain
seasons, as example 2002-2003 season we got above-average season, but
2003-2004 we got below-average season and 2004-2005 we got round-average season.
