ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - A major snowstorm is forecast to hit Jordan over the weekend and dump significant proportions of snow in wide regions of the Kingdom. The new blizzard is the second to hit Jordan this season, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department.

Freezing weather conditions are expected to engulf the Kingdom as of today through Saturday, with heavy snowfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail over hilly areas. Later, snowfall is expected to blanket areas over 400 meters of elevation, according to the JMD.

The blizzard will tighten its grip on the Kingdom on Friday before tapering off on Saturday, leaving in trail a white blanket in several parts in the country.

The Cabinet has ordered a preemptive shutdown of public departments, universities and schools to avoid traffic jams and people getting stranded, taking in mind the 2013 "Alexa" snowstorm which left thousands of citizens stranded in their vehicles.

Meanwhile, municipalities and concerned authorities have set up emergency centers to deal with storm, with snow plows put in place ahead of the storm.

The meteorological department warned of gusty winds and frost formation in most parts of the Kingdom in the early morning hours of Sunday.

Temperatures in Amman are expected to reach a high of 3C and a low of 1C at night.