The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Meteorological Directorate (PMD)
jointly issue a press release on the Occasion of the World Meteorological Day (WMD), on March 23rd, 2023.
This Year’s Theme: "The future of weather, climate and water across generations"
Every year on March 23rd, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which is composed of 189 members, and the global meteorological community celebrate the World Meteorological Day. This year’s theme is "The future of weather, climate and water across generations".
The following are the most prominent features of the weather in Palestine
Rain season is less than the mean average in most governorates
Data showed that the highest amount of rainfall during the current rain season was 484 mm in Salfit Governorate (which represented 69.3% of the mean average of the governorate), whereas the lowest amount of rainfall during the current rain season was 92.1 mm in Jericho Governorate (which represented 55.5% of the mean average of the governorate).
Cumulative amounts of rainfall from the beginning of the current rain season
2022/2023 till 09/03/2023
Governorate |
Quantity of Rainfall till 09/03/2023 (mm) |
Mean Average (mm |
% of Mean Average |
Salfit |
484.0 |
698.1 |
69.3 |
Ramallah |
456.8 |
615.2 |
74.3 |
Bethlehem |
387.7 |
518.4 |
74.8 |
Nablus |
375.6 |
660.1 |
56.9 |
Qalqiliya |
363.0 |
624.9 |
58.1 |
Jerusalem |
351.2 |
537.0 |
65.4 |
Tulkarm |
334.5 |
602.4 |
55.5 |
Hebron |
327.8 |
595.9 |
55.0 |
Jenin |
304.8 |
468.2 |
65.1 |
Tubas |
301.5 |
431.2 |
69.9 |
Jericho |
92.1 |
166.0 |
55.5 |
The Highest Annual Humidity was in Nablus and the Lowest was in Jericho
Data showed that the annual relative humidity in 2021 ranged between 75% in Nablus Station and 42% in Jericho Station.
Mean Relative Humidity (%) in 2021 and
Mean Average in Some West Bank Stations
Station |
Relative Humidity (%), 2021 |
Mean Average % |
% of Mean Average |
Nablus |
75 |
61 |
123 |
Ramallah |
74 |
75 |
99 |
Hebron |
65 |
62 |
105 |
Jenin |
64 |
69 |
93 |
Tulkarm |
54 |
70 |
77 |
Jericho |
42 |
52 |
81 |
Total Evaporation was Higher than the Mean Average in 2021
Data showed that the total evaporation in Palestine during 2021 increased in the majority of available stations, where it reached its highest (2,847 mm) in Jericho Station and its lowest (1,825 mm) in Nablus Station.
Evaporation Total in 2021 and Mean Average in Some West Bank Stations
Station |
Average Evaporation (mm), 2021 |
Mean Average (mm) |
% of Mean Average |
Jericho |
2,847 |
2,101 |
136 |
Jenin |
2,081 |
.. |
.. |
Hebron |
1,935 |
1,608 |
120 |
Ramallah |
1,862 |
1,889 |
99 |
Nablus |
1,825 |
1,682 |
109 |
..: Data not Available |
Air Temperatures in 2021 are higher than the mean average
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 Al-Aghwar region. PMD data showed that air temperatures in 2021 were higher than the mean average by (3.4°C (in Tulkarm and Jericho stations.
This significant rise in air temperatures is due to Palestine being affected by heat waves during the months of July, August and October, 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.
Variations in Air Temperatures (°C) in 2021
from the Mean Average in some West Bank Stations