BMD issues April Monthly Weather Summary

Manama, May 10 (BNA): The Bahrain Meteorological Directorate (BMD) reported in their monthly weather summary that the month of April 2015 was warmer than normal with below relative humidity and rainfall and above average wind speed. The mean temperature of the month was 26.8 C. This is 1.8 C above the long-term normal for April. This goes on record as the sixth highest mean monthly temperature for April since 1902 and exceeded by April 2000 and 2014 which were 27.4 C, April 2001 which was 27.2 C, April 2010 which was 27.1 C, April 1999 which was 27.0 C and April 1928 which was 26.9 C. The mean maximum temperature of the month was 31.1 C. This goes on record as the eighth highest mean maximum temperatures for April since 1946. This is same as 2002, 2010 and 2013 and exceeded by April 2000 which was 33.1 C, April 2001 which was 32.5 C, April 2003 which was 31.8 C, April 1999 which was 31.7 C, April 2014 which was 31.6 C, April 1970, 2007 & 2008 which was 31.5 C and April 2005 which was 31.3 C. The highest temperature recorded in the month was 40.9 C set on the 24th of April due to warm southerly winds which dominated during that morning. This goes on record as the fourth highest temperature for April since 1946 and exceeded by 20th of April 1949 which was 41.7 C, 21st April 2000 which was 41.3 C, 27th of April 1973 and 15th of April 1990 which was 41.0 C. The mean minimum temperature of the month was 23.3 C. This goes on record as the fourth highest mean minimum temperature for April since 1946 and exceeded by April 2010 which was 24.1 C, April 2014 which was 23.9 C and April 2013 which was 23.5 C The lowest temperature recorded was 20.4 C on the 16th April at Bahrain International Airport. The mean relative humidity for April was 45%. This goes on record as the second lowest mean monthly relative humidity for April since 1955 and only exceeded by April 2012 which was 44%. The mean maximum relative humidity for the month was 63%. This goes on record as the lowest mean monthly maximum relative humidity for April since 1955. The old record was 64% in April 2012 and 2013. The mean minimum relative humidity of the month was 27%. This goes on record as the third lowest mean monthly minimum relative humidity for April since 1955 and exceeded by April 2012 which was 25% and April 2013 which was 26%. April 2015 was the third sunniest month for all April’s since the sunshine records began in 1968. The total hour of sunshine for the month was 308.8 hours and exceeded by April 2014 which was 312.3 hours and April 1999 which was 311.7 hours Only trace amounts of precipitation was reported on 13th April at the Bahrain International Airport. Note that the long-term average for April is 10.0 mm. The highest monthly rainfall ever recorded in April was 69.9 mm which occurred in April 1961. Shamal winds accounted 62% of the observation with gusts reached 44 knots on the 1st April at the Bahrain International Airport. Dust storms were reported on the 1st and 2nd reduced the visibility to 50 meters at the airport from 22:30 LT on 1st of April to 03:30 LT on 2nd of April with maximum wind speed which reached 37 knots and gust 44 knots on 1st April and also Dust storm were reported on the 12th and 13th of April reduced the visibility to 800 meters on both days with maximum wind speed which reached 30 knots and gust 41 knots on the 13th April at the airport. This kind of unsettled weather conditions which normally occur at this time of the year are locally known as (Al-Sarrayat) which extend up to mid-May due to fast movements of cold upper troughs from the Mediterranean towards the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf which produce thunderstorms and gusty winds over