Under the Theme: "The ocean, our climate and weather”
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Meteorological Directorate (PMD) Issue a joint press release on the Occasion of World Meteorological Day (WMD) on March 23, 2021.
On the 23rd March of each year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which composed of 189 members, and the global meteorological community celebrate the World Meteorological Day. This year’s theme is “The ocean, our climate and weather”.
The following are the most prominent features of the weather in Palestine during 2020 (1/1/2020 - 31/12/2020)
Amount of Rainfall in 2020 is more than the Mean Average
The amount of rainfall in 2020 was 849 mm in Nablus Station and 121 mm in Jericho Station. The mean average of rainfall in Nablus Station was 660 mm and 166 mm in Jericho.
It is worth mentioning that the rainfall concentrated in most of the governorates in January.
Cumulative Amount of Rainfall (mm) in 2020
Compared with the Mean Average Figures in Some West Bank Stations
Station |
Quantity of Rainfall (mm) (1/1/2020-31/12/2020) |
Mean Average (mm) |
% of Mean Average |
Nablus |
849 |
660 |
128.6 |
Ramallah |
846 |
615 |
137.6 |
Hebron |
696 |
596 |
116.8 |
Bethlehem |
677 |
518 |
130.7 |
Tulkarm |
670 |
602 |
111.3 |
Jerusalem |
591 |
537 |
110.1 |
Jenin |
575 |
486 |
118.3 |
Jericho |
121 |
166 |
72.9 |
Highest Annual Humidity is in Nablus and the Lowest is in Jericho
Data showed that the annual relative humidity in 2020 ranged between 47% in Jericho Station and 80% in Nablus Station.
Mean Relative Humidity (%) in 2020 and Mean Average in Some West Bank Stations
Station |
Relative Humidity (%), 2020 |
Mean Average % |
% of Mean Average |
Nablus |
80 |
61 |
131.1 |
Hebron |
70 |
62 |
112.9 |
Jenin |
69 |
69 |
100.0 |
Tulkarem |
58 |
70 |
82.9 |
Jericho |
47 |
52 |
90.4 |
Mean of Air Temperatures in 2020 is higher than the mean average
The temperature data were analyzed by selecting stations that represent the climate system in Palestine. The analysis sample was taken for a station representing the mountainous and semi-coastal areas and the Ghor region. PMD data showed that air temperatures in 2020 were higher than the mean average by )6.5°C( in Tulkarem Station; and by (1.6°C( higher than the mean average in Jenin Station.
This significant rise in air temperatures is due to Palestine being affected by heat waves during the months of May, August and September; where the effect of which was greater on the mountainous, coastal and semi-coastal areas, hence, it made the temperature rise in these areas reaching higher percentages from their mean average. Thus, those heat waves were accompanied by a marked increase in humidity levels in the same areas.