Jordan | Ma'an, Mafraq, and Amman record the highest rainfall amounts... Details

The Jordanian Meteorological Department reported varying amounts of rain in different governorates of the Kingdom during the recent weather instability, with the highest amounts recorded in Ma’an Governorate at 27.2 mm, followed by Mafraq at 15.6 mm and Amman at 14 mm.

It is worth noting that the recorded rainfall amounts fall within the range of the main monitoring stations in the governorates. However, many other areas within the same governorates experienced higher rainfall amounts. This is attributed to the unpredictable nature of the weather pattern, whereby some areas received significantly higher rainfall rates (amount per unit time) than others, leading to the formation of flash floods and noticeable overflowing of wadis.

In addition, although the amounts of rainfall were modest in some areas that experienced floods, the amounts of rainfall themselves are not always related to the intensity of the precipitation or the formation of floods, as the chances of floods occurring depend mainly on the rate of rainfall intensity, i.e. the amount of precipitation during a unit of time.

40 mm of rain may fall in a certain area over two full days without causing flash floods, because the rainfall is distributed over a long period of time. In contrast, only 20 mm of rain falling in half an hour may lead to flash floods, because the amount of rain falls in a short time, which increases the rate of intensity and the inability of the ground to absorb the water quickly.

The following are the recorded rainfall amounts in the various governorates of the Kingdom:

• Irbid: 1.5
• Ajloun: 1.9
• Jerash: 1.5
• Al Mafraq: 15.6
• Salt: 3.3
• Blue: 12.4
• Amman: 14
• Madaba: 10.1
• Karak: 10
• Tafilah: 6.2
• Meanings: 27.2
• Aqaba: 10.1