Climate Jordan
Most of Jordan has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers, mild, wet winters and mild, evenly distributed shoulder seasons. Snow sometimes falls on the high plateaus in the north of the country, from the Syrian border to south of Amman. But snowy episodes or periods of frost are considered exceptional. Only the east and south of the country are subject to the heat of the desert climate, characterized by a high temperature range between day and night. The Dead Sea enjoys a unique microclimate because of its negative altitude. It is warmer than elsewhere in the country, and it is there that the record heat of 50°C was recorded in 2002. It is possible to swim all year round in the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. The rainy season runs from November to April, with more rainfall from December to March. January is the coldest month.
A Mediterranean climate
Although not located on the edge of the basin, Jordan enjoys a Mediterranean climate for the most part. Only the east and south of the country are subject to a desert climate. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It generally applies to countries located between 30° and 45° latitude, even if they are far from the Mediterranean. Jordan is positioned between 30° and 36° latitude. It is often considered that the olive growing area corresponds to the extension of the Mediterranean climate, which is the case in Jordan from its northern border to Petra. The day/night thermal amplitude is relatively small in summer and winter. In summer, high temperatures often exceed 30°C and can reach 45°C. In winter, the average daytime temperature is around 9°C and at night the thermometer drops to around 5°C, sometimes less. Rainfall is relatively limited and is mostly confined to the winter season, but heavy thunderstorms can occur in summer. In the Mediterranean climate, winter lasts less than summer and the two seasons are interspersed with mild, marked inter-seasons
The influence of the desert climate
The east of Jordan, close to the border with Iraq, and the south of the country (from Wadi Rum to the Saudi border) enjoy a desert climate. It is characterized by a very low rainfall and a wide temperature range between day and night. Temperatures are high all year round, although in Jordan the seasons continue to influence the thermometer. Thus, it is unbearably hot in summer and milder in winter. But in winter, the nights are very cold. This extreme climate is not conducive to the variety of animals or plants. These regions also have a low population density.
Seasonality in Jordan
Amman is influenced by the Mediterranean climate with average temperatures of 8°C in winter and 26°C in summer. Aqaba is under the influence of the desert climate with an average temperature between 16°C and 33°C. However, it is around the Dead Sea that the heat records are broken, with a temperature of 50°C. It is possible to swim in the Dead Sea and the Red Sea all year round. In the north, winters can be bitter, and snow, although exceptional, can fall in the north of the country until south of Amman, especially because of the high altitude of the plateaus. It is also the rainy season with an annual average of 400 mm of rain in the northwest and barely 100 mm in the south. January is the coldest month. The off-seasons have mild and relatively even temperatures across the country, but it is also during this period that the westerly wind can be strongest, kicking up quantities of dust and sand, particularly in the south of the country
