Warmest January since 1902

As concerns mount all over the world with global temperatures setting the stage for a long-term change, here in Bahrain also temperature remained red-hot with January turning out as the warmest ever January experienced in Bahrain since 1902. The highest temperature recorded during the month was 28.5 C which occurred on the 28th of January at Bahrain International Airport and this goes on record as the fourth highest maximum temperature day for January since 1946 and exceeded by 23rd January 1953 with a record of 31.7 C, 31st January 2015 with a record of 29.7 C and 21st January 1978 with a record of 29.0 C.

Meanwhile, according to a latest UN report, the last four years were the hottest since global temperature records began globally, which according to analysts is a “clear sign of continuing long-term climate change.” The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation said in November that 2018 was set to be the fourth warmest year in recorded history, stressing the urgent need for action to rein in runaway planetary warming. 

On Wednesday it incorporated the final weeks of last year into its climate models and concluded that average global surface temperature in 2018 was 1 degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial baseline levels.  2016, boosted by a strong El Nino that normally tips the mercury northwards, remains the hottest year on record.  The 20 warmest years in history all occurred within the last 22 years.  “The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. 

“The degree of warming during the past four years has been exceptional, both on land and in the ocean.” The WMO said heightened temperatures also contributed to a number of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts and flash flooding. The UN body also said that 2019 had picked up where 2018 left off, with Australia experiencing its warmest January on record. It warned that intense heatwaves “are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change.” 

Shatters Bahrain’s old record

According to Bahrain’s Meteorological Directorate, the mean temperature of January was 19.7 C which is 2.7 C above the longterm normal and this goes on record as the highest mean temperatures for the month of January since 1902. The old record was 19.6 C in January 2004. The mean maximum temperature of the month was 23.0 C which is 3.0 C above the longterm normal and this goes on record as the second highest mean maximum temperatures for the month of January since 1946 and only exceeded by January 2004 with a record of 23.1 C.

The mean minimum temperature of the month was 17.2 C which is 3.1 C above the longterm normal and this goes on record as the highest mean minimum temperatures for the month of January since 1946. The old record was 16.9 C in January 2004.  During the month Bahrain had 8 days with minimum temperature below 15 C.

Lowest temperature 13.2 c

The lowest temperature recorded was 13.2 C set on the 21st of January at Bahrain International Airport. Note that the lowest temperature ever recorded in Bahrain in January was 2.7 C which occurred on 20th January 1964 at Bahrain International Airport. But reached lower than zero degrees Celsius at Southern areas during the same day. The lowest temperature recorded at Durrat Al Bahrain was 10.8 C, at King Fahd Causeway 11.2 C and at Sitra Island 11.6 C on the 21st of January.

The mean relative humidity for January was 65pc whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 78pc and the mean minimum relative humidity was 47pc. A total of 1.8 mm of precipitation was reported in January 2019 at Bahrain International Airport. Trace amounts of precipitation were recorded on the 30th of January, the long-term mean total precipitation for the month of January is 14.5 mm. The highest monthly total precipitation ever recorded during January was 135.9 mm recorded on January 1959.

The total precipitation recorded for January 2019 at Durrat Al Bahrain was 1.6 mm whereas the total precipitation at King Fahd Causeway was 1.2 mm and at Sitra Island was 0.6 mm. Dust storm with strong to near gale winds affected the Kingdom on the 17th of January reducing the visibility to 350 meters at Bahrain International Airport with maximum wind speed reached 30 knots and gust 38 knots.