Monthly Weather Summary – August 2014

August 2014 was warmer than normal with below average relative humidities and wind speed.

The mean temperature of the month was 35.2°C. This is 1.2°C above the long-term normal. This goes on record as the seventh highest mean monthly temperature for August since 1902. This is the same as August 2007 and 2009 and exceeded August 1998 which was 36.5°C, August 2012 which was 35.9°C, August 2000 which was 35.8°C, August 2010 which was 35.7°C, August 1999 which was 35.6°C and August 2011 which was 35.5°C.

The mean maximum temperature of the month was 39.2°C. The maximum temperatures were above normal during the month except for a few days.

The highest temperature recorded in the month was 44.3°C which was on the 21st of August due to the warm southwesterly winds which were dominating in the morning.

During the month, Bahrain had seven days with maximum temperatures reaching 40°C or more. The mean minimum temperature of the month was 32.4°C. This goes on record as the third highest mean minimum temperature for August since 1946. This is the same as August 1998 and exceeded by August 2010 which was 32.8°C and August 2012 which was 32.5°C.

The minimum temperatures were also above normal during the month except for one day. The lowest temperature record was 30.3°C which was on the 14th of August.

The mean relative humidity for August was 52%. This goes on record as the fourth lowest mean monthly relative humidity for August since 1955 and exceeded by August 2012 which was 49%, August 2009 which was 50% and August 2011 which was 51%.

The mean maximum relative humidity for the month was 67%. This goes on record as the lowest mean monthly maximum relative humidity for August since 1955. The old record was 68% in August 2009 and 2011.

The mean minimum relative humidity for the month was 33%. This goes on record as the fifth lowest mean monthly minimum relative humidity for August since 1955 and exceeded by August 2012 which was 27%, August 2009 which was 30%, August 2013 which was 31% and August 2005 and 2011 which was 32%.

August 2014 was the sunniest month for all August’s since the sunshine records began in 1968. The total hour of sunshine for the month was 357.2 hours. The oldes record was 355.3 hours which was recorded in August 1974.

Few drops of rain were reported in Manama on Wednesday 27th August. Shamal winds accounted 34% only of the observation with gusts reached 29 knots on the 8th of August at the airport and 39% of the observation the winds was prevailing from east.

On the 18th of August, Bahrain has been affected by dust haze thick at times reduce the visibility to 700 meters at Bahrain International Airport. This dust has moved from the southern areas of the Gulf due to thundery cloud which formed over Omani high ground.