48 hours of continuous snow in Amman. Details of the 2003 snowstorm.

Arab Weather - The 2003 snowstorm was one of the most severe to hit Jordan and the Levant this century, coinciding with the anniversary of the storm that occurred between February 24 and 26.

How did the blizzard of 2003 form, and what were its effects?

Due to the presence of a high pressure system over central and eastern Europe and an extremely cold polar air mass over western Russia that pushed towards the eastern Mediterranean basin, this led to the formation of a low pressure system over northern Cyprus and a severe snowstorm that affected the countries of the southern Levant region, namely Jordan and Palestine. This completely paralyzed movement in the Jordanian capital, Amman, during which snow continued to fall for 48 consecutive hours. It was a particularly violent snowstorm, especially since it occurred during the period when people are anticipating the end of winter and the approach of spring.

On February 24, 2003, heavy and continuous snowfall began for three days in many parts of the capital, Amman. The snow continued to accumulate for several days, leading to the complete closure of roads. The weight of the accumulated snow caused power lines to be cut off and tin roofs to collapse onto cars.

Local snowfall in some neighborhoods of the capital, Amman, reached more than a meter, with 40 cm in the Jabal Amman area and 150 cm in the Ajloun Mountains. However, the Shara Mountains and southern Jordan witnessed no snow accumulation.