, with mild winters, but during which it can sometimes get cold, and hot, sunny summers.
Ma'an is a city of 40,000 inhabitants, located in southern Jordan, at 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level and 30 degrees north latitude.
, on a slope from 1,050 to 1,500 meters (3,500 to 4,900 ft) above sea level, and nearby, in a valley at 900 meters (2,950 ft) above sea level, is the archaeological site of
(the plural of wadi), the beds of ephemeral rivers, which remain dry for most of the time, and can suddenly fill up in the case of intense and short-lived rain, as can happen in the desert. For example, at the end of December 2022, the Petra area was flooded.
is decidedly scarce, since it amounts to 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) per year, is very rare, and occurs from October to May. From June to September it never rains.
, from December to February, is mild, although it gets often cold at night. The average temperature in January is around 8 °C (46.5 °F). Rainfall is also rare during this period.
During the cold spells that affect the Middle East, the temperature can drop below freezing at night, sometimes to around -8/-9 °C (16/18 °F), and it can even snow.
, from June to September, is hot and sunny, although at night temperatures drop considerably due to the altitude. The average in July and August is around 27 °C (80.5 °F). During heat waves, the temperature can reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F), with peaks of 42/43 °C (108/109 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
14 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.4 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
February is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
9.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.1 °C and a maximum of
16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.5 °C in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
28.5 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
March is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
20.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in March 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17.4 °C, with a minimum of
9.7 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in April 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.1 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 44%.
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.1 °C, with a minimum of
14.2 °C and a maximum of
30 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in May 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
39 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
4.6 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
16.9 °C and a maximum of
33.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.4 °C in June 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
41.8 °C in June 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only
1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 87% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
July is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.9 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
34.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.8 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39 °C. However, it reached
43.5 °C in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 89% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
27.1 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
35.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C. However, it reached
43.3 °C in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
September is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
24.9 °C, with a minimum of
16.8 °C and a maximum of
33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.5 °C in September 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
41 °C in September 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
October is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
28.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in October 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.8 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
November is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
14.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.4 °C and a maximum of
20.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.2 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
34.9 °C in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.3 °C and a maximum of
15.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9 °C in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in December 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only
3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.