Bahrain experienced warmer than usual May this year

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Meteorological Directorate reported in their monthly weather summary that the month of May 2023 was slightly warmer than normal in terms of temperatures with above-average wind speeds.

The mean temperature of the month was 31.7 C, which is 0.6 C above the long-term normal for May, and this goes on record as the ninth highest mean temperature for May since 1902. Note that the highest mean monthly temperature for May was 33.5 C, recorded in 2021.

The mean maximum temperature of the month was 35.9 C, which is 0.2 C below the long-term normal. Note that the highest mean monthly maximum temperature for May was 38.9 C, recorded in 2021.

The highest temperature recorded during the month was 43.6 °C, which occurred on May 13 at Bahrain International Airport but was recorded at 46.0 °C on the same day at Bahrain International Circuit.

The mean minimum temperature of the month was 28.3 C, which is 1.1 C above the long-term normal, and this goes on record as the seventh highest mean minimum temperature for May since 1946. Note that the highest mean monthly minimum temperature for May was 29.1 C, recorded in 2012.

The lowest temperature recorded was 23.1 C on May 7 at Bahrain International Airport, but it was recorded at 19.8 C on May 6 at Durrat Al Bahrain.

The mean relative humidity for May was 42%, whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 62% and the mean minimum relative humidity was 25%. The maximum relative humidity was 79% recorded on May 22nd, and the minimum relative humidity was 10% recorded on May 13th.

Only trace amounts of precipitation were recorded on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of May at Bahrain International Airport. Note that the long-term mean total precipitation for May is 0.5 mm, and the highest monthly rainfall recorded during May at Bahrain International Airport was 12.7 mm, which occurred in 1907.

The total monthly precipitation recorded for May 2022 at Durrat Al Bahrain was 3.8 mm and at Sitra Island was 0.2 mm, which was recorded on the 20th of May.

The total hours of sunshine for the month were 340.2 hours. Note that the highest monthly total hours of sunshine for May was 370.4 hours, recorded in 2021.

The mean wind speed for May was 9 knots. The prevailing wind was 38% from the northwest. Gust winds reached 31 knots on the 2nd, 14th, and 18th of May at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 32 knots on the 2nd and 18th of May at King Fahad Causeway.

The easterly to southeasterly winds accounted for 19% of the observations. Gust winds reached 31 knots on May 20 at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 35 knots on the same day at Durrat Al Bahrain. Dust was reported on May 31st. Visibility dropped to 2500 metres at Bahrain International Airport.