May was slightly cooler than normal in temperatures with above average wind speed, the Meteorological Directorate reported in their monthly weather summary.
The mean temperature of the month was 30.6°C which is 0.5°C below the long-term normal for May. The highest mean monthly temperature for May was 33.5°C recorded in 2021.
The mean maximum temperature of the month was 34.6°C which is 1.5°C below the long-term normal. The highest mean monthly maximum temperature for May was 38.9°C recorded in 2021.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 40.7°C which occurred on May 31 at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 43.5°C on 23 May at Bahrain International Circuit.
The mean minimum temperature of the month was 27.3°C which is 0.1°C above the long-term normal. The highest mean monthly minimum temperature for May was 29.1°C recorded in 2012.
The lowest temperature recorded was 24.7°C on May 10 at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 22.0°C on May 11 and 16 at Durrat Al Bahrain.
The mean relative humidity for May was 43% whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 61% and the mean minimum relative humidity was 28%. The maximum relative humidity was 82% recorded on May 16 and the minimum relative humidity was 9% recorded on the same day.
Only 0.8 mm of precipitation was reported in May at Bahrain International Airport. Trace amounts were recorded on May 6. 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 precipitation for May at King Fahad Causeway was 0.8 mm which was recorded on May 7.
The total hours of sunshine for the month were 343.9 hours. The highest monthly total hours of sunshine for May was 370.4 hours recorded in 2021.
The mean wind speed for May was 12 knots. The prevailing wind was 61% from the Northwest direction. Gusty winds reached 37 knots on May 14 at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 42 knots on May 13 at Durrat Al Bahrain. The easterly to southeasterly winds accounted for 10% of the observation.
During the month Bahrain had 11 days with dust and the visibility dropped to 5000 meters or fewer days this goes on record as the highest number of days with dust for May since 1990. The old record was 10 days which was recorded in 2003 and 2010.
Thick dust was reported on May 17 and 23. Visibility dropped to 600 meters on both days at Bahrain International Airport.
Source: Bahrain News Agency