This time, a heat dome is over Jordan. Will it cause the first heat wave of the year?

Arab Weather - Computer simulation maps at the Arab Weather Center indicate that the Kingdom will be affected, God willing, for the first time this year by what is called a heat dome on Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 2025, accompanied by a significant rise in temperatures and the prevalence of hot to extremely hot summer weather, especially in low-lying areas. Is the Kingdom about to experience its first heat wave?

Saturday: The Kingdom will be affected by a hot air mass, and important recommendations are made to avoid direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight.

The hot air mass will begin to affect the Kingdom on Saturday, coinciding with the influence of the heat dome, and temperatures will rise further to be 9-12 degrees Celsius above their average. The weather will be hot to very hot in summer in general, with the gradual spread of high clouds. Maximum temperatures will approach the 40-degree Celsius barrier in some neighborhoods and areas of the capital, Amman, while they will reach and exceed the mid-40s in the Badia and Jordan Valley regions.

Night temperatures will rise on Saturday/Sunday night, with lows reaching around 25 degrees Celsius. The weather will become warmer across the Kingdom, and relatively hot in low-lying areas, including the Jordan Valley and Aqaba.

The Kingdom will continue to be affected by the heat dome on Sunday, with hot summer weather.

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, temperatures will tend to decrease slightly, but they will remain several degrees Celsius higher than their usual rates. The weather will be similar to summer, meaning it will be hot in various regions of the Kingdom, and very hot in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba, with the appearance of high clouds in several regions. The winds will be westerly and moderate in speed.

Recommendations

- Avoid direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Safe disposal of cigarettes to prevent fires

- Do not leave children, even for a short period, inside closed vehicles.

- Do not leave flammable materials inside vehicles for long periods of time.

Will the heat dome cause the first heat wave of the year?

According to computer maps, the heat dome is not expected to cause the first heat wave of the year, due to its temporary impact on the Kingdom, lasting only two days. For a weather condition to be classified as a heat wave, temperatures must exceed normal levels by at least 5 degrees Celsius, for a period of at least three consecutive days.

According to current data, the upcoming weather system, which will affect the Kingdom on Saturday, is expected to rapidly recede on Sunday. Therefore, it is not classified as a heat wave, but rather a temporary hot air mass.

God knows best.