Flash Flood Awareness - Hiking in Jordan

Jordan is a country with a hot and dry climate. Situated on the Arabian peninsula, temperatures can rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 50 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is limited and summers are long and hot.

Some Facts

According to the WHO, Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water resource availability, per capita, in the world.
About 70 percent of Jordan's average rainfall in the country falls between November and March while it rarely rains between June and August.
The average precipitation over Jordan is about 160 mm ranging from 50 mm in the Eastern Badia and 600 mm in the Northern highlands.
Especially in January and February, heavy rainfall can occur in Jordan. It is especially during this season that you need to be aware of flash floods.

Sources:

www.who.int/heli/pilots/jordan/en/index.html
National Report Jordan - National Center For Agriculture Research And Technology Transfer - Harnessing Salty Water To Enhance Sustainable Livelihoods Of The Rural Poor In Four Countries In West Asia And North Africa: Egypt, Jordan, Syria And Tunisia - 2004

Valleys (Wadis) in Jordan

The many valleys (wadis) in Jordan are surrounded by solid rock formations that absorb not much water when it rains. Rain is channeled down through the valleys quickly and accumulates in shallow streams which may result in flash floods.

Some hikes in Jordan are in valleys (wadis).

Wadi Assal
Wadi Mukheiris Formation Trail
Wadi Karak Waterfall Trail

You should be aware of flash floods when you hike in these wadis.

What are Flash Floods?

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Definitions:

Flash floods are short-term events, occurring within 6 hours of the causative event - heavy rain, dam break, etc.
They occur often within 2 hours of the start of high-intensity rainfall.
You may notice the stream start to rise quickly and become muddy.
You may hear a roaring sound upstream that may be a flood wave moving rapidly toward you.
Head immediately for higher ground.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov

Conclusion

Factsheets on flash floods:

Music Credits for this Tutorial:

Summers Dawn - Geomic Walking Home - By 3Monkeys - Licensed Under: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Flash Flood Awareness - Hiking in Jordan

Some Facts

Login Form