Jordan | August 2024: Most Moderate in a Decade

Arab Weather - Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Regional Center said, after conducting an extensive study of the climate record for the month of August over the past 10 years, that August 2024 was moderate compared to the past ten years, as it was the most moderate in terms of temperatures after being distinguished by the absence of severe heat waves and extreme temperatures that the Kingdom witnessed in previous years, as maximum temperatures were not recorded that greatly exceeded the usual rates, but rather remained within the normal range without the occurrence of heat waves or severe heat masses.

August 2024: Most moderate in a decade

In detail, August 2024 did not witness high or extreme temperatures, making it the most moderate month in a decade. During this month, temperatures were recorded around average on most days, without any severe heat waves or extreme temperatures. The highest maximum temperature during August 2024 reached about 35.6°C on the 19th of the month, which is one to two degrees above the general average.

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While no high minimum temperatures were recorded, the lowest minimum temperature was 19.4°C on the 25th of the month, which reflects the absence of the severe climatic effects that the region witnessed in previous years, thank God, and thus the month of August ends this year without any heat waves.

General description of August 2024

August 2024 saw temperatures around normal on most days, with no severe heat waves or extremely hot air masses.

Monthly rates for August 2024 at the Kingdom level:

- Maximum temperature: 33.5°C
- Minimum temperature: 21.5°C

Lowest temperatures in East Amman for August 2024:

- Lowest maximum temperature: 30.6°C (on August 30)
- Lowest minimum temperature: 19.4°C (on August 25)

Since 2015, August has witnessed heat waves or high temperatures in the east of the capital, Amman.

August 2024 saw moderate temperatures, making it the mildest month in a decade. The region did not record any heat waves or extreme temperatures, reflecting a significant improvement in the weather compared to previous years. Returning to the climate record, the Kingdom has witnessed heat waves or high temperatures in August since 2015, but August 2024 did not witness any of these waves, making it the mildest month since 2015.

Comparing August of previous years to this August:

August 2023:

August 2023 started with near-normal temperatures. However, the period from August 12 to 14 witnessed an exceptional heat wave due to the effect of the heat dome, as temperatures rose significantly during these days, and the two heat waves continued throughout the month, with high temperatures above normal until the end of August, and recorded east of the capital Amman on 14/8 at 43.7°C.

August 2022:

August 2022 started with a typical summer with temperatures around normal. However, from August 27 to 31, the region experienced a severe heat wave, with temperatures rising significantly during this period. The highest maximum temperature recorded in the month was 41.4°C.

August 2021:

August 2021 saw hot spells with temperatures reaching 39.5°C. The month was generally hot, with frequent periods of notably high temperatures.

August 2020:

August 2020 witnessed a strong heat wave from August 29 to 31, with temperatures rising significantly. The highest maximum temperature of the month was 42.5°C during this hot period.

August 2019:

August 2019 was above average in terms of temperatures. The highest maximum temperature recorded in the month was 37.2°C, reflecting notable hot spells during the month.

August 2018:

August 2018 saw normal weather behavior for most of its period, with a slight increase in temperatures towards the end of the month. The highest maximum temperature was 36.2°C, which is below normal, although some periods witnessed higher than normal temperatures.

August 2017:

August 2017 saw high temperatures, with the highest maximum temperature approaching 39°C. The month saw notable hot spells, adding to the severity of the weather during that period.

August 2016:

The weather varied between relatively hot and hot. The highest maximum temperature was 38.6°C, reflecting varying hot spells throughout the month.

August 2015:

The month saw two heat waves, with 4 days where temperatures exceeded 40°C, and 8 days where temperatures exceeded 35°C. The weather was generally hot and intense during this period.

The scientific reason behind the absence of heat waves and heat domes in August 2024

The effects of the heat dome were absent from the atmosphere of Jordan and the Levant during the month of August 2024, thank God, due to the shape of the weather systems prevailing in the northern hemisphere. Since the beginning of the month, the outputs from the numerical computer models, which simulate the movement of air masses and weather systems in the northern hemisphere, especially the European continent and the Levant, showed that the shape of the weather systems appears striking as a result of the flow of upper basins with lower temperatures across the European continent towards the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea.

As fall approaches, summer systems begin to collapse and the polar vortex rebuilds itself in preparation for winter.

The upper air systems coming from Eastern Europe caused the upper subtropical high to move eastwards, which caused the heat waves and the heat dome to move away from the Levant and Jordan during the current month of August, thank God. Thus, the temperatures were not far from the normal range, despite their rise in some periods.

July 2024 saw the absence of the heat dome and heat waves as well.

Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Regional Center said that the heat dome phenomenon has disappeared from the Kingdom’s atmosphere, thank God, during the current month of July, unlike some periods in July 2023, when the effects of the heat dome extended to the Kingdom’s atmosphere and the Levant, causing two heat waves.