Climate
Jordan is part of the eastern Mediterranean weather system and boasts one of the world's most pleasant climates. There are marked seasonal contrasts, however. Summers are dry and warm-to-hot and winters are wet and cool-to-cold, with occasional snow storms. In the highlands there are often strong, cool breezes on summer nights and the low-lying areas enjoy pleasant, moderately cool winters.
January is the coldest month and, although below-freezing temperatures are not unknown, the average winter temperature is above 7.2°C (45°F).
The hottest month is August, when temperatures may reach 48.9°C (120°F) in the Jordan Valley. In Amman, the average summer temperature is a pleasant 25.6°C (78°F).
Rainfall is mostly during the winter months and ranges from 660mm (26in.) in the north-west to less that 127mm (5in.) in the east of the region.
Below are average monthly temperatures for Amman and Aqaba in °C (°F in brackets):
| Amman | Aqaba |
January | 8.1 (46.5) | 15.6 (60.0) |
February | 9.0 (48.2) | 17.0 (62.6) |
March | 11.8 (53.2) | 20.1 (68.2) |
April | 16.0 (60.8) | 24.3 (75.7) |
May | 20.7 (69.3) | 28.4 (83.1) |
June | 23.7 (74.6) | 31.8 (89.2) |
July | 25.1 (77.2) | 32.5 (90.0) |
August | 25.6 (78.0) | 33.0 (91.4) |
September | 23.5 (74.3) | 30.4 (86.7) |
October | 20.6 (69.0) | 27.1 (80.7) |
November | 15.3 (59.5) | 22.1 (71.7) |
December | 10.0 (50.0) | 17.2 (62.9) |