Label - The term "August of Flames" fit perfectly with August 2021, which was characterized by persistent high temperatures and successive powerful heat waves that affected most Jordanian regions, with the highest temperatures reaching 47.2°C in the Dead Sea area on August 5, 2021, according to the Jordanian Meteorology Department data.
The capital Amman recorded a high average temperature of 34.9°C, making it the second hottest August in the city's modern climate records, following August 2010 which recorded an average high of 36°C and also registered one of Jordan's strongest heat waves. The average daily temperature reached 28.3°C during this August, which is the reason for the exhausting weather conditions. The month recorded only two days with temperatures close to their normal averages based on daily temperature averages.
August 2015 recorded the third hottest August with a high of 34.7°C, just slightly lower than August 2021. Those years were distinguished by successive powerful heat waves and extremely hot temperatures.
Jordan has specifically recorded more intense heat waves since 2015 compared to previous years, as a result of climate change. The intensity of heat waves has doubled and their frequency has increased since summer 2015 to twice the level compared to the years before 2015, with strong heat waves now occurring at a rate of 2-3 per year, compared to one strong heat wave every 2.5 years before 2015.
The highest temperatures in August 2021 were recorded at Marka Airport at around 39.5°C and Queen Alia International Airport at around 40.2°C on August 26. Jordan was affected by two heat waves with extremely high temperatures recorded in many Jordanian cities, especially during the final heat wave, with the highest temperature reaching around 41°C in downtown Amman.
Summer 2021 was characterized by being long and "exhausting," starting early in April 2021 and continuing until early September, with successive powerful heat waves and extremely high temperatures during many periods, amid the scarcity of moderate summer weather throughout most of its days, which is a result of the severe and intense climate changes affecting the world.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the previous July was the hottest month globally in the history of modern climate records. Jordan was affected by several heat waves during July 2021, and the powerful global heat waves caused the largest forest fire wave and the highest rate of ice melt in the Arctic region. The peaks of Greenland island recorded the first rainfall in the history of modern climate records, western Canada registered the strongest heat wave in the history of modern climate records with temperatures reaching around 50°C, and the European continent recorded the highest temperatures in the history of modern climate records as well, reaching around 48.8°C in southern Italy.
The powerful heat waves coincided with floods and torrents in wide areas of countries around the world, as heat waves and rising temperatures cause increased rates of heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions.
The WASM Regional Center predicts, based on climate model data it has developed, which is considered the first of its kind in the region, that the intensity of extreme weather conditions will increase over the coming years, with increased chances of torrents and floods during rainy seasons, as well as the intensity of snow storms in contrast with their shorter duration. It is also expected that powerful heat waves will recur at the end of spring, throughout summer, and at the beginning of fall in the coming years.
The WASM Regional Center was unique in providing early warnings about heat waves in August and determining the details of their intensity and peaks due to the W.DMM technology it possesses, which can predict the best probability during the coming days without confusion or weather information error, and the climate model specialized in long-range forecasts extending up to 3 months, where this model that relies on statistical equations can detect strong weather conditions well in advance, which helps all sectors in strategic planning.
Sources..
- Jordanian Meteorology Department.
- It's official: July was Earth's hottest month on record | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)
- Europe needs to prepare for temperatures of 50C in future | Official blog of the Met Office news team
- June ends with exceptional heat | World Meteorological Organization (wmo.int)
August 2021 records the second hottest August in the history of modern climate records in Jordan
