Jordan/Winter 2023/2024 Archive: A large number of air depressions and abundant rainfall in the north and center of the Kingdom, while it was below expectations in the south.

Arab Weather - The Arab Weather Regional Center archives the most prominent weather events and important data for the 2024/2025 rainy season, spanning from October to May. The goal is to assess the performance of the rainy season, and to refer to it in the future and compare it to the winters and rainy seasons of previous and future years, God willing.

General description of the 2023/2024 winter and rainy season

Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Center said that the 2023/2024 rainy season was one of the most active and distinctive in Jordan and the Levant, as the region was affected by a number of active low-pressure systems distributed throughout the rainy season, specifically the winter square. The season was characterized by excellent rainfall in the north and center of the Kingdom. Returning to the weather maps, ideal weather systems prevailed during the 2023/2024 season, as a strong high pressure system dominated large areas of the European continent, and there were repeated instances of cold basins rushing from Eastern Europe towards the eastern Mediterranean basin, which enhanced the formation of classic and comprehensive low-pressure systems.
In conclusion, the 2023/2024 season can be described as an active and effective rainy season, which has significantly replenished water supplies and contributed to the revitalization of vegetation across the north and center of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the southern regions suffered from a significant rainfall deficit, and not all southern regions achieved their climatic average rainfall amounts.

Total number of depressions and weather systems that affected the Kingdom throughout the 2023/2024 rainy season

November 18 and 19, 2023, Category 3 (Moderate-High Impact): The Kingdom was affected during this period by the first Category 3 low pressure system, which coincided with the onset of winter weather. During the low pressure system, cold, cloudy, stormy, and rainy conditions prevailed, God willing. These rains were heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms and heavy hail showers, especially over the highlands.

December 22-24, 2023, Class 2 (Normal) Low Pressure System: The low pressure system coincided with rainfall in northern Jordan, extending intermittently to parts of the central regions and, to a lesser extent, to the south of the Kingdom. The rains were sometimes heavy, especially in the north of the Kingdom, with active wind speeds accompanied by strong gusts, sometimes reaching 70-80 km/h, which stirred up dust in the desert areas, and fog formed in the mountainous highlands due to clouds touching the ground.

January 10-12: Second-degree (regular) depression: The Kingdom was gradually affected starting Wednesday evening and for several days by a second-degree (regular) depression accompanied by a cold air mass. According to the Arab Weather Center's depression intensity index, the weather was cold and cloudy with intermittent rain in the north, center, and south of the Kingdom, with fog forming in the mountains.

January 23 and 24, 2024: First-degree (lowest) depression: This depression brought cold weather and scattered showers of rain, sometimes heavy, in the northern regions, specifically Ajloun Governorate.

January 25, 2024: Weather instability: The Kingdom was affected by weather instability due to the passage of an upper air depression, which led to rainfall in random areas.

January 26 and 27, 2024: The first Class 3 (medium-high intensity) depression of the winter square : As a result of the continued flow of colder winds towards the region, the Kingdom was affected on Friday and Saturday by the first Class 3 depression of the winter square. This depression was accompanied by another significant drop in temperatures and heavy rainfall in excellent quantities in various regions, with strong winds causing dust waves in desert areas.

January 28-29, 2024: Second-degree (regular) depression: The Kingdom was affected on Sunday and Monday, January 28-29, 2024, by a second-degree depression, causing continued rainy and cold winter weather in several regions, concentrated in the north and center of the Kingdom.

January 31 to February 1, 2024 Polar Unstable Weather: Very cold polar winds seeped into the region, causing a significant drop in temperatures, especially in the evening and night hours. At night, temperatures reached below zero degrees Celsius in many areas, with frost and freezing. The polar winds coincided with the seepage of moist air currents, creating a polar unstable weather pattern that resulted in clouds appearing at various altitudes. Rain and hail showers fell randomly, in the form of snow showers over the high mountainous areas, especially in the south and east of the Kingdom.

February 2-5, 2024 Second-degree (normal) low pressure system and humid westerly currents : Starting from the night hours of Friday, February 2, 2024, the Kingdom was affected by a second-degree low pressure system, amid very cold weather over the high mountainous areas, which may be accompanied by heavy rains at times, and snow showers over the peaks of Ajloun Governorate and over the peaks of the Shara Mountains. The Al-Subaihi station in Balqa Governorate recorded the highest amount of rainfall that day.

February 18 and 19, 2024, a second-degree (normal) depression: The depression was accompanied by cold and changeable weather, ranging from partly cloudy to cloudy in most areas, and intermittent showers of rain in several areas in the north and center of the Kingdom. The rain was heavy in some parts of the northern regions, and sometimes extended to parts of the eastern region and parts of the southwestern highlands for brief periods.

February 28 to March 1, 2024: Extension of the Siberian High: During this period, the Kingdom was affected by the extension of the so-called Siberian High, accompanied, God willing, by activity in the speed of the easterly winds, which doubled the feeling of coldness, and cold to very cold conditions prevailed, especially during the night and early morning hours.

March 18 and 19, 2024: Second-degree (normal) depression: The Kingdom will be affected by a second-degree depression that coincides with an extension of the Red Sea depression, along with the flow of more humid and cooler currents. This will result in unstable weather conditions, accompanied by showers of rain in various parts of the Kingdom.

April 10, 2024: A second-degree (normal) low-pressure system will affect the Kingdom on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. On the first day of Eid al-Fitr 2024, the Kingdom was affected by a second-degree low-pressure system, bringing cold and rainy winter weather to several regions. The rain was accompanied by a significant drop in temperatures, bringing back the cold winter weather, which necessitated wearing warm clothing.

May 6, 2024 Late Class 2 Low Pressure System (Winter): On Monday, May 6, 2024, the Kingdom was affected, God willing, by a Class 2 Low Pressure System (Normal/Winter), according to the classification scale of low pressure systems adopted by us at the Arab Weather Center. The low pressure system was accompanied by a relatively cold air mass, and showers of rain, sometimes accompanied by thunder, fell in the northern and central regions of the Kingdom.

It's worth noting that the Kingdom has been affected by several instances of atmospheric instability due to an unusual extension of the Red Sea depression. These instances brought intermittent thunderstorms, enhancing the performance of the rainy season. The atmospheric instability was most active in the spring of 2024, thanks be to God for His blessings.

General information about the 2023/2024 rainy season:

The percentage of rainfall achieved in various regions of the Kingdom for the rainy season:

Northern : 100%

Central West : 91%

Central East : 88%

Southwest: 55%

Southeast: 74%

Aqaba : 61%

Eastern Province : 88%

Northern Jordan Valley: 127%

Central Jordan Valley: 103%

Southern Jordan Valley: 136%

Number of depressions by degree:

First : 1

Second : 8

Third : 2

Fourth : There is no

Fifth : There is no

Total : 11

Most active months for weather events: January

The strongest air depressions that affected the Kingdom: November 18–19, 2023, a third-degree air depression / January 26–27, 2024, a third-degree air depression.

The coldest month of the rainy season: January.

Note: The percentage of achieved rainfall rates is sourced from the Jordan Meteorological Department, while the rest of the archived data comes from the Arab Weather Center.