The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Meteorological Directorate reported in their monthly weather summary that the month of                       December 2022 goes on record as the third warmest December ever experienced in Bahrain since 1902.

The mean temperature of the month was 21.9°C which is 2.2°C above the long-term normal for December and this goes on record as the third highest mean temperature for December since 1902. Note that the highest mean monthly temperature for December was 22.5°C recorded in 2001.

The mean maximum temperature of the month was 24.4°C which is 1.5°C above the long-term normal and this goes on record as the fifth highest mean maximum temperature for December since 1946. This is the same as in December 1990. Note that the highest mean monthly maximum temperature for December was 26.3°C recorded in 2001.

The highest temperature recorded during the month was 29.1°C which occurred on the 6th December at Bahrain International Airport and this goes on record as the ninth highest temperature for December since 1946 at Bahrain International Airport. Note that the highest temperature recorded for December at Bahrain International Airport was 30.6°C which occurred on 15th December 2001.

The highest temperature recorded in the month at Bahrain International Circuit was 29.8°C which was recorded on the 2nd and 6th December and at the Durrat Al Bahrain was 29.4°C which was recorded on the 2nd December. 

The mean minimum temperature of the month was 19.4°C which is 2.6°C above the long-term normal and this goes on record as the second highest mean minimum temperature for December since 1946. Note that the highest mean monthly minimum temperature for December was 19.6°C recorded in 2001.

The lowest temperature recorded was 14.7°C on the 28th December at Bahrain International Airport but was recorded 13.1°C on the 29th December at King Fahad Causeway.

The mean relative humidity for December was 65% whereas the mean maximum relative humidity was 77% and the mean minimum relative humidity was 52%. The maximum relative humidity was 90% recorded on the 20th and 21st December and the minimum relative humidity was 31% recorded on the 22nd December.

The temperatures were below average on the last four days of the month due to the Northwesterly winds and the cloudy conditions affecting the Kingdom on these days, and the rain showers associated with some days.

Only 0.4 mm of Precipitation was reported in December 2022 at Bahrain International Airport. Trace amounts of Precipitation were recorded on the 7th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, and 31st December. Note that the long-term mean total precipitation for December is 15.2 mm and the highest monthly rainfall recorded during December at Bahrain International Airport was 119.6 mm which occurred in 2006. 

The total monthly precipitation recorded for December 2022 at Durrat Al Bahrain was 7.4 mm whereas the total precipitation at Bahrain International Circuit was 6.6 mm, at the University of Bahrain was 5.4 mm, at Sitra Island was 4.4 mm, at Horat A’ali was 2.6 mm, and at King Fahad Causeway was 0.2 mm.

The total hours of sunshine for the month were 245.6 hours. Note that the highest monthly total hours of sunshine for December was 287.9 hours recorded in 2014.

The Mean wind speed for December was 8 knots. The prevailing wind was 43% from the Northwest direction. Gust winds reached 32 knots on the 28th December at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 33 knots on the 27th December at Durrat Al Bahrain. The Easterly to Southeasterly winds accounted for 15% of the observation.