The Meteorological Department issues year-round warnings and guidelines to help citizens avoid the effects of natural phenomena that occur during autumn, winter, summer, and spring, as failing to follow these instructions can put public safety at risk. Among these phenomena, lightning is particularly hazardous.
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Reliable scientific sources indicate that the most dangerous and common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning, which involves highly concentrated and hazardous electrical charges.
The Meteorological Department provides key advice to minimize the risks associated with lightning and thunder, emphasizing that citizens’ safety during such events depends on three main contexts: being outdoors, inside vehicles, and inside buildings. Each situation requires proper precautions to protect oneself and others.
The department advises citizens to stay away from high places and open plains for safety, avoid standing near isolated trees or electrical and communication poles, and keep clear of water bodies, swimming pools, and open areas. If inside a vehicle during a thunderstorm, one should remain inside and avoid touching metal parts. When indoors, citizens should keep windows and doors tightly closed, stay away from electrical appliances and wiring, and avoid using corded phones or water sources such as taps and showers during the storm.
Raed Al-Khatab, Director of the Meteorological Department, explained that atmospheric instability usually arises when the Kingdom is affected by a surface-level thermal low, such as the Red Sea trough, coinciding with cold air flowing through mid and upper layers of the atmosphere. This thermal contrast leads to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds that produce rain showers at irregular intervals and locations.
He added that such conditions typically affect Jordan in autumn and spring, with autumn having the strongest impact. Heavy rainfall over short periods can lead to flash floods, making these events dangerous because the land and waterways cannot absorb the sudden, intense precipitation, which is often accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Al-Khatab stressed the importance of taking all warnings seriously during unstable weather, including alerts about flash floods in valleys and low-lying areas, water accumulation on roads, and thunderstorms with lightning, as adhering to these warnings greatly enhances public safety.
General guidance during unstable weather includes avoiding valleys and flood channels entirely, not attempting to cross floodwaters by any means, following official weather updates continuously, and cooperating with relevant authorities during emergencies.
The Civil Defense Directorate also issues daily instructions for safety during severe weather events, including strong winds, heating systems, fires, and floods. These include avoiding valley edges and flood-prone areas, not risking crossing roads on foot or by vehicle, and being cautious of water-filled pits that may cause accidents.
Citizens are urged to accompany children walking to and from school during strong winds, carry out regular maintenance of home electrical installations to prevent short circuits, secure objects that could be blown away from rooftops, and limit travel during dust storms.
Safety measures for heaters include regular maintenance, checking wires for damage, not overloading electrical outlets, keeping wires away from heaters, ensuring gas heater hoses are intact without leaks, and never refueling heaters while they are on. Heaters should not be used for cooking or drying clothes, and proper ventilation should be maintained. Children should be supervised to prevent accidents near heaters.
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