MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY –MAY 2020

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Meteorological Directorate reported in their monthly weather summary that the month of  May 2020, was warmer than normal in temperatures and slightly above average in precipitation.

The mean temperature of the month was 31.0°C which is 1.2°C above the long-term normal. Note that the highest mean monthly temperature for May was 32.8°C recorded in 2012.

The mean maximum temperature of the month was 35.6°C which is 1.5°C above the long-term normal. Note that the highest mean monthly maximum temperature for May was 37.9°C recorded in 2012.

During the month Bahrain had 3 days with maximum temperature exceeded 40°C. The highest temperature recorded during the month was 42.5°C which occurred on the 24th May at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 44.9°C on the 29th May at Bahrain International Circuit.

The mean minimum temperature of the month was 27.1°C which is 1.1°C above the long-term normal. Note that the highest mean monthly minimum temperature for May was 29.1°C recorded in 2012. The lowest temperature recorded was 23.5°C set on the 5th May at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 21.2°C on the 3rd May at Durrat Al Bahrain.

A total of 1.2 mm of precipitation was reported in May 2020 at Bahrain International Airport. Trace amounts were recorded on the 2nd May. Note that the long-term average total precipitation for May is 1.1 mm. The highest monthly total precipitation ever recorded during May at Bahrain International Airport was 12.7 mm which occurred in 1907.

The total precipitation recorded for May 2020 at Durrat Al Bahrain was 10.4 mm, whereas, at King Fahad Causeway, Bahrain International Circuit and Sitra Island were no precipitation recorded.

The mean relative humidity for May was 47% whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 70% and the mean minimum relative humidity was 26%. The maximum relative humidity was 84% recorded on the 1st and the minimum relative humidity was 12% recorded on the 5th, 15th and 17th.                   

May 2020 was the second sunniest May since the sunshine records began in 1968 whereby a monthly total of 355.4 hours of sunshine was recorded and only exceeded by May 2014 with a record of 356.8 hours.

The mean wind speed for May was 8 knots. The Northwesterly winds accounted for 34% of the observation with gusts reaching 31 knots on the 11th and 13th May at Bahrain International Airport. Westerly winds accounted 13% of the observation with gusts reaching 41 knots on the 3rd May at Durrat Al Bahrain.

Dust affected the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 11th May reduced the visibility to 3000 meters at Bahrain International Airport.

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