Weather conditions currently affecting the kingdom are ‘typical for this time of year’ and reports of severe weather are exaggerated, a government agency has confirmed.
According to the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry’s Meteorological Directorate, current conditions fall within what is locally known as the Sarayat season and remain well within expected parameters.
The Sarayat season occurs from late March to mid-May and is a transitional weather period in Bahrain and the GCC. It is known for sudden, unpredictable convective storms and features rapid cloud formation, heavy rainfall, high-speed downdraft winds and low visibility due to dust, often occurring during evenings.
“This period is characterised by rapid weather changes that may include sudden fluctuations, and can sometimes develop into scattered thunderstorms,” the directorate said in a statement yesterday.
“This is a natural and common occurrence during this time of the year.
“Regarding what is being circulated by some unofficial sources about today being a historic day for rainfall, the directorate confirms that the expected weather conditions remain within the normal range for the season, despite the possibility of occasional intensification.
“The influence of the season is expected to continue until dawn on Friday with chances of rainfall that may at times be thundery, accompanied by periods of increased wind activity.
“The directorate urges everyone to rely on official channels for the latest updates, advisories and developments, and to avoid being swayed by rumours or inaccurate information in circulation.”
The statement follows a forecast by MyRadar Weather, which had indicated chances of a severe weather today, not just in Bahrain, but also the rest of the GCC. MyRadar is an application that displays real-time weather data on a map and provides users with instant, high-definition radar imagery ‘to track storms, rain and other weather conditions’.
“In a virtually unheard of setup, Thursday features a legitimate severe weather and tornado risk in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain,” the app said.
“Serious flooding, with up to a year’s worth of rain, is expected as well. There is a chance of an isolated rotating storm along with a warm front, golf ball-sized hail and an isolated tornado.
“In southern regions, isolated thunderstorms could produce outflow boundaries that kick up dust.”
An isolated tornado is a single tornado that develops from a lone thunderstorm rather than as part of a large outbreak. They are often short-lived rather than a widespread event.
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