Why do hot air masses reach our region easily while cold air masses find it difficult to do so?

Arab Weather - Throughout most of the year, especially in spring and summer, warm air masses arrive in our region quickly and easily, while cold air masses arrive less frequently and only under certain conditions. What explains this weather behavior?

Why do hot air masses reach our region easily while cold air masses find it difficult to do so?

In response to this question, which is frequently asked, meteorologists at the Arab Weather Center said the main reason is the region's geographic location. The Levant lies within the middle and lower latitudes, and is naturally closer to hot-mass-producing regions such as the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula. This facilitates the flow of hot air into the region when appropriate weather conditions are present.

In contrast, cold air masses often form in high latitudes and polar regions, such as northern Europe and Siberia, and require specific weather conditions to penetrate southward. The movement of these cold air masses is often controlled by the high-pressure system extending over the region.

The jet stream—a powerful air current in the upper atmosphere—also plays a major role in directing air masses. In many cases, the jet stream prevents cold air masses from descending into our region, or directs them eastward toward Iran and Pakistan, or westward toward the western Mediterranean basin, depending on the shape of the region's weather systems.

Low pressure systems sometimes deviate, while warm air masses are more stable.

The difference lies in the distance of the source and the size of the air mass. Cold air depressions often originate in distant regions, such as northern Europe and the Arctic, and must travel long distances to reach us. During this long path, these cold air masses can undergo changes in direction or be dissipated by opposing weather systems such as high-pressure systems, especially since they are relatively small in size when they reach the eastern Mediterranean.

In contrast, hot air masses originate from very nearby regions, such as the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and North Africa, and are characterized by a broad horizontal extension covering vast areas. This greater extension makes them more stable on weather maps and gives them greater ability to penetrate without being significantly affected by surrounding systems. Therefore, we note that heat waves are easily detected and predicted, and reach us without significant deviation.

Simply put, the closer the source and the larger the mass, the greater the chance of it steadily reaching the area.

And God knows best.