Summer Has Not Officially Started Yet Despite Rising Temperatures, Says Astronomer

TDT | Manama

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Although Bahrain is currently experiencing soaring temperatures reaching the mid-40s Celsius, especially during midday, astronomer Mohamed Redha Al Asfour clarified that, astronomically speaking, summer has not yet officially begun.

Al Asfour explained that Bahrain is still in the spring season according to the astronomical calendar. He noted that summer will officially start on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 5:42 AM local time with an event called the “summer solstice.” This marks the beginning of the longest season of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, lasting about 93 days and 15 hours.

He added that the summer solstice marks the day with the longest daylight hours and the shortest night of the year. In Bahrain, the sun will rise at 4:45 AM from the far northeast and set at 6:32 PM in the far northwest. The midday sun will be at its highest point at 11:39 AM, giving a total of 13 hours and 47 minutes of daylight—the longest daytime of the year.

Interestingly, while it marks the peak of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, this day signals the peak of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, with the shortest day and longest night there.

Al Asfour also highlighted that on this day, the sun’s rays will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, casting the shortest shadows at noon. Meanwhile, the sunlight will be angled over areas near the Tropic of Capricorn, due to the Earth’s tilt of 23.5 degrees.

He further mentioned that as summer progresses, humidity levels are expected to rise, making the heat feel even more intense.