Jordanians have been closely following news about the heatwave that affected the kingdom last week, and the long-awaited good news has arrived: forecasts indicate that the heatwave will start to subside from Saturday, bringing back mild summer weather and pleasant nights.

Mohammed Shaker, Executive Director of the “Arab Weather” website, told the program Nabd Al-Balad that the kingdom experienced the peak of the heatwave on Wednesday, with the weather station at King Hussein Airport in Aqaba recording 49.6°C—the second highest temperature on Earth that day—breaking the city’s previous record of 48°C set in 2022.

Accelerating Climate Change

Shaker emphasized that this significant rise reflects the accelerating pace of global climate change, warning that Jordan now breaks temperature records every two to three years, a worrying indicator that calls for caution.

He added that Thursday will mark the last day of the heatwave’s peak, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas, including parts of Amman, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba, alongside a milder form of atmospheric instability compared to previous days.

A Rare Sight

Shaker noted that southwestern regions of the kingdom experienced an unusual phenomenon for August, with thunderstorms, rain, and hail showers—a rare summer scene reflecting climate change effects. He also highlighted that homes will retain stored heat for several days after the heatwave subsides.

The news of the heatwave’s decline comes as a relief for Jordanians after days of extreme heat, restoring the long-awaited mild weather and pleasant summer nights.