January temperatures, precipitation in Bahrain higher than normal

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

January 2022 was slightly warmer than normal in temperatures and above-average precipitation, the Meteorological Directorate said in their monthly weather summary.

January was wet with six rainy days, accumulating 58 mm of precipitation at Bahrain International Airport and this goes on record as the sixth-highest monthly total rainfall for January since 1902.

This was approximately three times more than the long-term normal for January, 18.1 mm.

The highest monthly total rainfall recorded, 135.9 mm, was in January 1959.

Trace amounts of precipitation were also recorded on January 16 at Bahrain International Airport.

The highest day with precipitation was 36.2 mm on January 1 and this goes on record as the fifth-highest daily total of precipitation since 1948 at Bahrain International Airport.

The highest daily total of precipitation for January was 49.1 mm on January 22, 1959.

The total monthly precipitation recorded for January at the University of Bahrain was 61.2 mm whereas the total precipitation at Sitra Island was 53.4 mm, Durrat Al Bahrain 47 mm, King Fahad Causeway 44.8 mm and Bahrain International Circuit 28.8 mm.

The mean temperature of the month was 17.8°C, which is 0.3°C above the long-term normal for January, which is 17.5°C.

The mean maximum temperature of the month was 20.4°C, which is 0.3°C below the long-term normal. The highest temperature recorded during the month was 25.5°C on January 13 at Bahrain International Airport.

The mean minimum temperature of the month was 15.1°C, which is 0.6°C above the long-term normal.

Although the temperatures were slightly above normal in general, Bahrain was affected on January 20-22 by a cold wave accompanied by a noticeable decrease in temperature with fresh to strong northwesterly winds. This was due to a movement of a low polar trough followed by a cold air mass towards the Arabian Peninsula.

The northwesterly winds had a noticeable effect on the feeling of cold weather, where the lowest temperature was recorded 10.5°C at Bahrain International Airport, 9.7°C at Sitra Island and Bahrain International Circuit, 9.1°C at Durrat Al Bahrain and 9°C at King Fahad Causeway on January 22. However, the apparent temperatures were less than 5°C in all stations due to the influence of the cold air.

Climate statistics for January of previous years indicate that Bahrain had experienced similar cold waves in which temperatures decreased to 10°C or less, for example in 2020, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2009, and 2008.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Bahrain was on January 20, 1964, which was 2.7°C at Bahrain International Airport.

The mean relative humidity for January was 67% while the mean maximum relative humidity was 80% and the mean minimum relative humidity was 51%. The maximum relative humidity was 94% recorded on January 1 and 26, and the minimum relative humidity was 26% recorded on January 11. 

The mean wind speed for January was 9 knots. The prevailing wind was 40% from the northwest. Gust winds reached 37 knots on January 21 at Bahrain International Airport and 41 knots on the same day at King Fahad Causeway.

Easterly to Southeasterly winds accounted for 20% of the observation.