Jordan: What is the scientific explanation for thunderstorms during a heat wave?

Arab Weather - The heat wave affecting the Kingdom was accompanied by an influx of subtropical humidity, leading to the formation of dense clouds documented by many citizens. This humidity contributed to an increased sensation of heat and a rise in humidity levels, creating a distinct sense of "stuffiness" in the atmosphere.

A heat wave accompanied by rain... How so?

Some of these clouds developed into cumulonimbus clouds, resulting in rainfall of varying intensity in random areas, mainly concentrated in the south and east of the Kingdom. The scientific explanation for this is attributed to the combination of two important factors: high humidity and high temperatures. Hot air begins to rise toward the upper layers of the atmosphere, coinciding with the availability of large amounts of moisture, leading to the development of what are known as convective clouds (a type of cloud formed by the rise of warm, humid air from the Earth's surface, where the air cools and condenses to form clouds. These clouds are also known as "cumulus clouds" or "cumulonimbus clouds" and are often associated with thunderstorms).

Weather instability is expected to persist on Wednesday, with thunderstorms forming in scattered areas, concentrated in the south and east. These showers could be heavy at times in limited geographical areas, a rare occurrence at this time of summer.

These conditions are also expected to be accompanied by occasional hail and sudden downward winds, which may lead to the formation of dust storms that reduce or eliminate horizontal visibility, especially in desert areas.

And God knows best.