Press Release by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Meteorological Directorate (PMD) on the Occasion of World Meteorological Day (WMD), March 23, 2019.

This Year’s Theme: "The Sun, the Earth and the Weather”

Every year on March 23rd, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which is composed of 192 members, and the global meteorological community celebrate the World Meteorological Day.  This year’s theme is “The Sun, the Earth and the Weather”.
 

The following are the most prominent features of the weather in Palestine during the 2018 (1/1/2018 - 31/12/2018).

 The Highest Average Hours of Sunlight was in Jericho Station in 2018

During 2018, the highest average hours of sunlight was 8.4 hours per day in Jericho Station, while the lowest average hours was 7.8 hours per day in Hebron Station compared to 2017, where it was 8.8 hours per day in Jericho Station and 8.2 hours per day in Hebron Station.

Amount of Rainfall in 2018 is More than  the Mean Average

The amount of rainfall in 2018 was 877 mm in Tulkarm Station, and 213 mm in Jericho Station. The mean average rainfall in Tulkarm Station was 602 mm and 166 mm in Jericho.

It is worth to mention that the rainfall was concentrated in most of the governorates in December and January during the year 2018.

Cumulative Amount of Rainfall (mm) for 2018

Compared with the Mean Average Figures in Some West Bank Stations

High Temperatures in 2018 Compared with Mean Average

Maximum air temperatures during 2018  were higher than the mean average by )3.4°C( in Tulkarm Station; whereas the maximum air temperatures decreased by (0.2°C( from the mean average in Jenin Station.

Minimum temperatures in 2018 were also higher than the mean average by around 4.8 °C in Jericho Station and 1.5 °C in Ramallah Station.

Higher Total Evaporation in 2018

The total evaporation in 2018 was ranged between  2,411  mm in Jericho Station and 1,607 mm in Ramallah Station. 

Total Evaporation (mm) in 2018 and Mean Average in Some West Bank Stations

Highest Annual Humidity in Nablus, Lowest in Jericho

Data showed that annual relative humidity in 2018 ranged between 47% in Jericho Station and 77% in Nablus Station.

Data showed that the minimum average of relative humidity was recorded in May in Jericho station (34%), whereas the maximum average of relative humidity was recorded in December in Nablus station (93%).

 
 Mean Relative Humidity (%) in 2018 and Mean   

Average in Some West Bank Stations