The middle third of January is the coldest period of the winter

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society and member of the Arab Federation for Astronomy and Space Sciences, Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, said that the temperature averages for the current month of January range between 23°C and 11°C in general, and the rain is within its normal levels, which range between 12 and 18 mm, with an average of 6 to 8 rainy days.

Al-Jarwan explained in a special statement to “WAM” that the period that includes the middle third of January is considered the coldest during the winter season according to the general climatic rates of the region, coinciding with what is known as “Dar al-Sittin,” which is known in popular tradition for its extreme cold. During this same period, there is “Batin Cold,” which is extremely cold, and in the middle of winter comes “Azraq Cold,” which may form in frost due to the severity of the cold. The period from December 22 to January 31 is characterized by extreme cold and is called “Winter Forty.” “Winter Square” among the deserts of Iraq and the Levant.

He said that this period coincides astronomically with the perpendicularity of the Pleiades star at dinner time, which has long been linked to the connotations of extreme cold in Arab culture. Climatically, this period witnesses the formation of very cold mornings in which frost may form, especially in areas located deep in the desert or in highlands that exceed 1,200 meters above sea level, where temperatures in the early morning hours may drop below five degrees Celsius and may reach below zero degrees Celsius at times.

Al-Jarwan pointed out that the period from January 10 to January 23 is recorded as the lowest temperature throughout the region on a monthly average, although in reality some days in the first half of February usually witness the lowest temperature of the year with active cold winds, but the overall average for the month of February rises by approximately 2 degrees Celsius over January rates according to meteorological data in the region.