Karak records highest rainfall rates since 1971

The Director of the Meteorological Department, Raed Al Khattab, explained that the Karak Governorate witnessed the highest rainfall rates since 1971 during the recent weather depressions, which led to the formation of torrents and landslides as a result of the nature of the mountainous region.

Al-Khattab said during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Services and Transportation on Sunday that the Meteorological Department had done its duty and provided all the necessary information and warnings about the low-pressure system, noting that there were about 300 liaison officers with various institutions and ministries to receive updates first-hand.

Al-Khattab added that the department relies on advanced monitoring mechanisms and a network of measurement stations spread throughout the Kingdom, and plays an important role in supporting the land, air and sea transport sectors, and enhancing public safety by providing official bodies and citizens with timely weather reports and warnings.

During the meeting, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Services and Transportation, chaired by MP Ayman Al-Badadwa, was briefed on the Meteorological Department’s plans and strategies in the areas of weather monitoring and climate forecasting. The committee requested clarification of the procedures taken to ensure the accuracy of the information issued by the department, especially in light of climate changes and rapidly evolving weather conditions.

Al-Badadwa stressed that the Meteorology Department is one of the vital national institutions, emphasizing the need to rely on its official bulletins in the face of inaccurate information circulating on social media.

The committee members, MPs Taysir Abu Arabi, Jihad Madanat, Hayel Ayash, Hassan Al-Riyati, and Abdul Raouf Al-Rabihat, stressed that the safety of citizens and the protection of public facilities and the transportation sector are a top priority, stressing the importance of supporting the department technically and technologically and raising its operational efficiency to keep pace with scientific and technological developments.

The MPs also called for highlighting the most prominent challenges facing the department, especially with regard to infrastructure, modernization of equipment and provision of specialized personnel, stressing their readiness to provide the necessary support under the dome of Parliament to enhance the department’s readiness to deal with emergency weather conditions.