AMMAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Unpredictable rainfall linked to climate change has emerged as a double-edged sword for water-hungry Jordan, bringing both relief to the country's strained water supplies and disruptions to daily life, infrastructure, and agriculture.
When heavy rain floods the streets of Amman, taxi driver Ahmad Khalil knows his day's work may come to a halt. "Sometimes I have to stop working for hours, and that directly affects my income," he said.
For schoolteacher Lina Riyad, erratic swings between cold, rain, and warmer days have fueled a spike in flu and respiratory illnesses, pushing up student absences.
Across Jordan, such daily disruptions are becoming more common, as unpredictable weather patterns reshape routines, livelihoods, and public health, a trend experts directly link to climate change.
This winter's rains have been both a blessing and a warning for Jordan: While they filled dams, improved water storage, and offered some relief to a country long struggling with water scarcity, they also triggered flash floods, soil erosion, road damage, and farming disruptions. In Karak governorate, part of the old city collapsed amid floods, shutting a key road.
On the positive side, Water and Irrigation Ministry spokesperson Omar Salameh told Xinhua on Tuesday that the 2025-2026 rainy season is "excellent," having achieved more than 130 percent of the Kingdom's average annual rainfall of approximately 8.1 billion cubic meters. Most of the Kingdom's dams in the southern and central regions have reached full storage capacity due to the continuous rainfall.
Meanwhile, climate change is taking its toll. Climate expert Omar Shoshan noted a clear shift from stable seasonal patterns to extreme and uneven weather -- prolonged droughts followed by sudden heavy rains, driven by rising Mediterranean Sea surface temperatures and changing atmospheric circulation.
The implications of this shift are serious, Shoshan warned, noting that heavy rain can fill dams and recharge groundwater only if managed well, since quick downpours usually run off instead of seeping into underground aquifers.
Raed Khattab, director general of the Jordan Meteorological Department, also warned that climate change has become one of the most urgent challenges facing Jordan, citing a 5-year uptick in atmospheric instability, heatwaves, and extreme rainfalls.
Farmers in the Jordan Valley, the country's agricultural backbone, are caught in the dilemma. Mahmoud Al Awran, director general of the Jordanian Farmers' Union, said the rains benefited water harvesting, fruit trees, and livestock, but the prolonged cold combined with rainfall also damaged crops in the valley, a key producer of high-quality crops, including vegetables, citrus fruits, bananas and Medjool dates.
Vally farmer Nawash Al Yazjeen confirmed rain and cold weather can improve crop quality, but also reduce production. Unprotected crops are prone to disease during the rainy season, while even protected crops suffer lower yields, driving up tomato prices this year, he said.
Experts stressed that Jordan can no longer treat these extreme weather events as isolated incidents.
"Climate change is no longer a future risk for Jordan. It is a present reality," Shoshan said. He called for stronger adaptation measures, including upgraded drainage systems, expanded rainwater harvesting, improved flood protection, climate-aware urban planning, and better early warning systems.
For Jordan, rainfall remains a precious resource. But in a warming world, the challenge is no longer how to capture every drop, but rather how to live with its growing unpredictability. ■