Why does rain fall in the Gulf Mountains in summer and disappear from Jordan?

Arabia Weather - The mountains of the Arabian Gulf witness heavy summer rains at a time when Jordan suffers from a continuous drought during the same season. This dramatic variation in weather patterns raises questions about the scientific reasons behind this climate phenomenon. What makes the Gulf Mountains receive summer rains, while Jordan's skies remain clear? In this article, we will review scientific explanations and opinions to understand this weather phenomenon.

Rainfall during the summer on the mountain highlands in the Arabian Gulf, such as southwest Saudi Arabia and the Hajar Mountains in Oman and the eastern Emirates, is due to the expansion of the so-called Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is an area where the northeastern trade winds meet the southeastern trade winds. This region extends around the equator and is characterized by high temperatures and high humidity, which leads to the formation of dense clouds and heavy rainfall.

The ITCZ moves north and south with the change of seasons, affecting weather patterns in the equatorial and subtropical regions. This movement leads to the occurrence of rainy and dry seasons in those areas, as the location of the ITCZ is associated with monsoon activity and heavy rains, just as it happens in the mountainous regions of the Arabian Peninsula.

Wet monsoon winds are the main cause of summer rainfall in the Gulf Mountains

According to meteorologists at the Arab Weather Center, the main cause of summer rainfall in the Gulf Mountains is due to the effects of the monsoon winds that accompany the expansion of the tropical divide. The monsoon winds bring with them high humidity from the Indian Ocean, and cause the formation of cumulus clouds when they collide with the mountains. Gulf, leading to rainfall.

Experts at the Arabia Weather Center add that the topographical conditions of the Gulf Mountains play a pivotal role in this phenomenon, as the mountainous terrain contributes to raising the humid air coming from the south, which leads to the condensation of water vapor and the formation of rain clouds.

Why doesn't it rain in summer in Jordan?

The reason for the absence of summer rains in Jordan is due to its different geographical location. The Kingdom is located within the influence of a subtropical high that brings with it drought and stability in the weather during the summer. This air elevation prevents the formation of cumulus clouds and prevents rainfall.

Despite this, at the beginning of August 2015, Jordan was exposed to a strong heat wave, accompanied by unstable weather conditions and rainfall in some areas, especially in the south and east. The maximum temperature rose to 42 degrees Celsius in the capital, Amman, which is the highest temperature recorded in the capital throughout. It was the summer of that year, and the heat wave at the beginning of August 2015 was accompanied by the formation of an unprecedented massive sandstorm that rushed towards Queen Alia International Airport and caused a lack of horizontal visibility.