Jordan: Recommendations to avoid swimming in the Dead Sea and to secure greenhouses during periods of easterly wind activity

Arab Weather - Moderate to brisk easterly winds are expected to blow across the Kingdom, starting from Monday and throughout the current week, becoming strong to very strong gusts at times during the late night and dawn hours in the mountain slopes and the Jordan Valley and the Jordan Valley. These winds will increase the “feeling of cold,” especially during the early morning and night hours, in addition to stirring up dust and sand in some areas.

Recommendation to avoid swimming in the Dead Sea during easterly winds

There is a risk of unusually high waves in the Dead Sea, due to the activity of the easterly winds, which increases the risk of being swept out to sea to the west, in addition to the risk of drowning, especially for people who are not professional swimmers.

When trying to explain why tourists and swimmers are unable to return to the shore as they usually do, we realize that it is related to the weather, specifically the direction and strength of the prevailing winds. Winds that blow across Jordan typically come from the northwest or west, and are usually light to moderate in speed. Therefore, they create gentle to moderate waves on the small surface of the Dead Sea, which is why tourists and swimmers naturally and gradually make their way to the shore without much effort, as the wind is blowing from behind them, meaning it is coming from the west and northwest.

Drowning and stranding incidents in the Dead Sea have occurred in previous years as a result of easterly winds.

It is worth noting that the area rarely witnesses drowning incidents related to this matter, but some incidents have occurred in the past, the latest of which was in March of 2015, which resulted in one death and dozens of people drifting towards the Palestinian coast to the west, prompting the intervention of teams from the Civil Defense and Public Security, with the support of the Jordanian Armed Forces - the Arab Army, represented by the Royal Navy.

Drowning incidents occurred on March 7, 2015 and March 27, 2015, two days characterized by active easterly to southeasterly winds across the country, meaning that the rush of waves and water currents became contrary to the swimmers, making them unable to return to the shore as happens on normal days when the winds are westerly.

What makes the matter more difficult is the nature of the Dead Sea water, which is characterized by its high salinity. As soon as the waves hit the swimmers’ faces, the salt water enters their eyes and mouths, which makes them unable to see, and they begin to feel nauseous.

Recommendation to install greenhouses in the Jordan Valley areas

Farmers in the Jordan Valley are advised to take measures to secure their greenhouses firmly, due to the activity of the easterly winds which may cause them to shake or be damaged, in order to preserve the crops and ensure the continuity of agricultural activity during the coming period.

And God knows best.