AMMAN — The Kingdom's average annual temperature has increased by roughly 1.6°C over the past 100 years, according to Amman Civil Airport station data spanning 1923 to 2025, records from the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) showed on Monday.

 

JMD data also showed a clear shift in heatwaves regarding frequency, intensity, and duration, according to Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

JMD Director-General Raed Khattab said that average temperatures over the last decade rose by about 0.9°C compared to the reference period (1991–2020), indicating a trend towards more severe heat.

 

Khattab noted that heatwaves in Jordan stem from hot air masses originating in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa combined with summer high-pressure systems, with climate change intensifying these events.

 

Records between 1995 and 2025 show a rise in heatwave frequency, with 2020 recording five heatwaves.

 

Khattab cited the August 8-15, 2025 heatwave as one of the most severe in Jordan’s 100-year climate record, as maximum temperatures at Amman Civil Airport remained at or above 40°C for seven consecutive days.

 

During that wave, the King Hussein International Airport recorded a record maximum temperature of 49.6°C on August 13, 2025. Four stations broke maximum temperature records, while 11 broke minimum temperature records.

 

For current forecasts through September, Khattab said that seasonal outlooks do not indicate a full heatwave, despite scattered hot days.

 

Upcoming temperature rises do not meet the JMD operational definition of a heatwave, which requires maximum temperatures to exceed average levels by 5°C or more for at least three consecutive days.

 

Khattab stressed that heatwaves impact public health, water, agriculture, energy, and tourism, underscoring the importance of early warning systems and sectoral readiness.