AMMAN - The hot air mass which affected the Kingdom late last week will start subsiding as of Sunday with cooler temperatures forecasted for Monday, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).
Temperatures, which exceeded their annual average during this time of year by 4-5 degrees, are expected to decrease over the next two days, JMD Meteorologist Hussein Momani told The Jordan Times on Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to reach 36oC today and a high between 33oC and 34oC in Amman on Monday, Momani said, with the JMD forecasting overnight lows of 20oC and 19oC respectively.
He added that the air mass, which originated from the Arabian Peninsula and was accompanied by northwesterly winds, led to the hot and humid weather on Saturday.
"The air mass caused temperatures in Amman to exceed those registered in Aqaba, as temperatures in the capital reached 38oC compared to 37oC in Aqaba," Momani said.
"The hot weather conditions are the result of a thermal low over the Arabian Peninsula, which may extend to the southern and eastern regions of Kingdom," Momani said.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported heavy rain accompanied by thunder in Petra yesterday, a rainfall the JMD considered as a light shower.
Meanwhile, electricity demand increased over the past two days due to the heatwave, according to the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).
NEPCO Director General Ahmad Hiyasat said electricity consumption reached 1,980 megawatts yesterday morning, lower than last month's average electricity load of 2,230.
During Ramadan, government institutions and private companies work two fewer hours a day, contributing to the reduction in energy consumption, Hiyasat noted.
"If it wasn't during Ramadan, consumption could have reached 2,200 megawatts due to the hot weather," he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said water consumption increased "dramatically" during the recent heatwave.
Adnan Zu'bi, ministry spokesperson and assistant secretary general, told The Jordan Times that despite the spike in demand, the ministry managed to maintain the amount of irrigated water provided to farmers.
According to the Civil Defence Department, there have been no reports of sunstroke or other health problems due to the recent heatwave, which began on Thursday.
By Omar Obeidat
© Jordan Times 2008
