Amman, Aug. 10 (Petra) -- Jordan's annual average temperature has risen by about 1.6 degrees Celsius over the past century, accompanied by noticeable changes in the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves, according to long-term records from the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

Data from the Amman Civil Airport meteorological station covering the period from 1923 to 2025 show a sustained rise in temperatures, while the average temperature over the past decade was around 0.9 C above the 1991-2020 reference period.

JMD Director Raed Al Khattab told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that climate indicators point to increasingly severe periods of high temperatures compared with historical patterns.

He said heatwaves in the Kingdom are primarily associated with hot air masses extending from the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, as well as high-pressure systems during the summer. Climate change, however, is increasing the likelihood of more intense periods of extreme heat.

Records covering 1995-2025 show an increase in the number and intensity of some heatwave episodes, Al Khattab said, noting that five heatwaves were recorded in 2020, while some recent events have been longer and more severe than those recorded in the past.

The heatwave that affected the Kingdom from Aug. 8 to 15, 2025, was among the most significant examples. The JMD classified the episode as a severe, medium-duration heatwave under its heatwave intensity and duration matrix.

Al Khattab said the episode ranked among the most severe heatwaves in Jordan's climate record spanning more than a century, with maximum temperatures at Amman Civil Airport remaining at or above 40 C for seven consecutive days, an unprecedented occurrence in the station's records.

King Hussein International Airport registered a maximum temperature of 49.6 C on Aug. 13, 2025, breaking the station's previous record.

Four meteorological stations recorded new maximum-temperature records during the episode, while 11 stations registered new records for minimum temperatures.

Turning to the current outlook, Al Khattab said the latest seasonal forecasts for August through September do not indicate a full-fledged heatwave at present, despite the possibility of scattered hot days.

The rise in temperatures expected over the next two days does not meet the JMD's operational criteria for a heatwave, which require maximum temperatures to remain at least 5 C above their climatological average for three consecutive days or longer.

An analysis of 51 forecast scenarios produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) also showed no heatwave signal in the ensemble mean, although Al Khattab said limited indications remain under monitoring.

Jordan's heatwave season generally extends from June through September, with severe episodes most likely during July and August. In particularly warm years, such conditions can persist into September.

Al Khattab said extreme heat can have direct consequences for public health, water resources, agriculture and energy, as well as some economic and tourism activities.

He stressed the importance of strengthening early-warning systems, improving preparedness across relevant sectors, raising public awareness of preventive measures and further developing forecasting tools to assess the likelihood and severity of extreme heat events.

Climate indicators suggest that Jordan is experiencing increasingly severe periods of high temperatures, requiring stronger adaptation and preparedness measures alongside continued scientific monitoring and regular updates to weather forecasts, he added.

//Petra// RZ

10/08/2026 11:40:04