LAST month saw the highest amount of rainfall recorded for October at Bahrain International Airport since 1902.
The month also recorded warmer than normal temperatures and above average precipitation, according to the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry’s Meteorological Directorate.
In its monthly weather summary yesterday, the directorate said October was wet with three rainy days, accumulating 19.9mm of precipitation at the airport.
This went on record as the highest monthly total precipitation for October at the airport since 1902 and 40 times more than the long-term normal for October, which was 0.5mm.
The highest precipitation registered was 11.6mm on October 22.
This went on record as the highest daily total precipitation since 1948; the old record was 8.9mm on October 31, 1969.
Another 3.3mm rain fell on October 27 and 5mm on October 28 to make the total monthly amount 19.9mm. Trace amounts were also recorded on October 20 and 21.
Thunderstorms occurred on six days, heavy rain showers associated with thunderstorm and strong gusts affected the kingdom on October 22.
The unsettled weather occurred due to a series of upper troughs passing towards the Arabian Gulf and gusts reached 39 knots with the visibility dropping that day to 800 metres at the airport.
A total precipitation of 19mm fell at Sitra island with gusts reaching 43 knots and a total precipitation of 2.4mm fell at King Fahad Causeway while gusts reached 44 knots on October 22.
Meanwhile, the mean temperature for the month was 30.9C – 1.7C above the long-term normal. This went on record as the third highest mean temperature for October since 1902.
It was exceeded by October 2015 with a record of 31.7C and October 2017 with a record of 31.1C.
The mean maximum temperature was 34.1C, 1C above the long-term normal.
The highest temperature recorded was 39.1C which occurred on October 1 at the airport while Durrat Al Bahrain recorded 40.2C on the same day.
The mean minimum temperature was 27.9C – 2.4C above the long-term normal and this went on record as the third highest mean minimum temperatures for the month since 1946.
It was exceeded by October 2015 with a record of 28.9C and October 2014 with a record of 28.2C.
The lowest temperature recorded was 22.2C on October 27 at the airport but recorded 19.6C on October 30 at Durrat Al Bahrain.
The mean relative humidity for October was 59 per cent whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 73pc and the mean minimum relative humidity was 42pc.
Gusts reached 45 knots on October 27 at Bahrain airport, going on record as the highest maximum wind gust speed for October since 1974.
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