When does the cold weather start?

Arab Weather - As the end of autumn approaches, cold weather in Arab countries is usually associated with the beginning of the "Winter Square," a period that lasts approximately forty days. During this period, temperatures begin to gradually drop during the day, and the cold becomes more pronounced at night.

The onset of cold weather is usually associated with the winter square.

According to Arab folklore, cold weather is usually associated with what is known as the forty days of winter, or what is known colloquially as "Murabba'aniyah al-Shita." Winter lasts for ninety days and is divided into two parts: "Murabba'aniyah," meaning forty days, followed by "Khamasiniyah," which lasts fifty days and is also called the "Su'ud" period. "Murabba'aniyah" typically begins on December 22 and continues until the end of January.

This time of year is considered the "coldest" in various regions of the Arab world, especially the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula. Climatically, temperatures are low and the cold is severe. Polar air masses are also likely to intrude, increasing the likelihood of snowfall. However, this varies from year to year. In some years, temperatures are much warmer than usual during the Al-Murabba'aniyah season, and sometimes rainfall is scarce.

Many popular proverbs are said about the winter square, such as: “Either it shines or it drowns,” “Either it squares or it dies,” “Either the sun burns or the rain drowns.”