Where’s the Snow?
Everyone is obsessed with this huge blizzard that is supposed to hit Amman today…the one I’ve been saying is not going to come.
Look out the window? Do you see the sun? Do you feel the temperature? It’s 10° C (50° F) outside. Even if the snow were to start falling, the ground has been far too warm for the past couple of days for anything to stick. But there’s hardly a cloud in the sky at the moment, and the low temperature for the day is only supposed to be 1° C (34° F). And the 5-day online forecast (which I trust much more than Jordan’s meteorologists) is calling for sunny skies with a few days of hazy clouds.
I just received a call from the doctor’s office canceling an appointment this evening and bumping it to earlier in the day, which really puts a kink in my schedule. Why the cancellation? Because of the inclement weather, of course!
Here’s some snippets of Nas’ opinion on the impending meteorological disaster:
I think the only thing possibly worse than that chaos associated with actual snow in the country are those few days leading up to a potential snow fall, when everyone is talking about it. Weather information isn’t the most developed facet of Jordan’s public services, a point which is highlighted every time a snow storm is preceded by predictions of sun shine. Still, Jordan TV and various radio stations find a way to turn the science of meteorology into the fortunetelling makings of a game show.
And for some funny reason, it seems people take pleasure in bad weather. Maybe we take some sort of pleasure in the predictability and historical reliability of things always getting worse before they get better.
Also, every snow storm is the biggest to hit Jordan in 50 years. Every one.
I wish everyone would quit screwing up schedules just because they think the sky is about to fall.
Qwaider قويدر February 18th, 2008 10:36 am
This is the first time I see you upset…
Dave February 18th, 2008 10:41 am
Qwaider, you’re joking, right?
Bilal - Black jack February 18th, 2008 10:42 am
Although I check AccuWeather like you do, and although the forecast on it doesn’t show any snow, the Weather Channel, BBC weather service and Yahoo! forecast all show a sign of a mix of snow and rain.
while the young pharmacist / meteorologist -wanna-be, Al shaker, predicts a huge snow fall from 2 am - 5 am tuesday morning.
It’s too confusing and totally unnecessary.
Instead of people going to stores to stock up on food and gas, they should all buy shovels, so once it snows - and if it snows - they can help their neighbours and thier community open and clean up roads.
Dave February 18th, 2008 11:10 am
Bilal, I’m with you on the snow shovel thing. My neighbors kept stealing/borrowing my shovel during our last blizzard, which really impaired my snowman construction.
Zed February 18th, 2008 3:35 pm
what do you expect, amman, all talk no action lol
Dave February 18th, 2008 4:41 pm
Well, the sunny skies disappeared and it started to rain, so AccuWeather is proving to be a bit less accurate as they claim. But it’s still not cold enough to snow, although the wind makes it feel much colder than it really is.
Stay tuned…
Qwaider قويدر February 18th, 2008 6:29 pm
Well, you’re kinda cool most of the time. and rarely get a bit upset. But this time you’re ranting .. unusual or am I hallucinating again?
hatem abunimeh February 18th, 2008 6:58 pm
Dave,
I must concur with Qwaider, you have been way too cool for someone living and working in Jordan, I guess it took little longer for you as oppsed to some of the others to have your nerves put on notice.Like they say: Patience is virtue.
Shaden February 18th, 2008 7:28 pm
I wanted it to snow so badly that I asked everyone I saw today including the pizza guy if they think it will! even though I’ve read the weather forecast online and 5 degrees didn’t seem like a snow degree to me.
Maher February 18th, 2008 9:11 pm
i just got back from the gym..and its kinda snowing out there…but it depends if its gonna stay/hold on the ground or not..due to the heavy raining that occurred before the snow
Dave February 18th, 2008 9:31 pm
Qwaider and Hatem, perhaps if you read all my gripes, you might think differently.
Although if you met me in person, you would realize that I never really get that mad or upset. Most of my life is pretty laid back.
Maher, you’re the second person tonight to tell me that it’s kinda snowing in their area. All I have is rain and wind so far. My thermometer is reading 5° C (41° F), so it’s still too warm to be officially snowing. What we’re probably witnessing is ice forming at high altitudes and managing to stay frozen until it hits the ground. I don’t expect any slush or frozen roads in the morning, however.
Raeef February 19th, 2008 12:40 am
about canceling and changing schedule because of a piece of news about snowing , well thats normal for Jordan, when our Jordan’s meteorologists make a big deal of it ( and it might actually be a big deal) but anyway our roads,people,cars and nearly anything is not that costumed to snow, and the best evidence was the last snow hit, Amman stayed iced for about 3 days or more.
Dave February 19th, 2008 7:23 am
Update: my kid’s school was just canceled. I’m looking out the window and, as far as I can tell, things have been canceled because of wind, fog and rain. I expect it to snow perhaps a bit this morning, but my thermometer is registering 1° C (34° F), which is too warm to stick. Everybody panic!