Bahrain Weather Overview
Bahrain
has an arid desert climate, slightly moderated by its surrounding waters.
Temperatures are high year round, though considerably hotter in summer than in
winter. Humidity is high but rainfall is incredibly low; the country’s annual
average rainfall is 72 mm. The country has little topographical variation and
is mostly flat, low-lying desert, though there is a small strip of fertile land
along the east coast of Bahrain Island. Its uniformity and small size mean
there is little climatic variation from place to place. Surrounding the islands
is the shallow Gulf of Bahrain, abundant with coral; the coral, as with
Bahrain’s entire natural environment, has suffered extensive damage due to
human development. Bahrain is an archipelago of thirty-two islands that sit in
the Persian Gulf to the east of Saudi Arabia and south of Qatar, which are its closest
neighbours and share its desert climate. The archipelago consists of four main,
larger islands - Bahrain Island, Muharraq Island, Umm an Nasan and Sitrah – and
twenty-eight smaller islands.
Summer, from March till
October, is scorching hot and oppressively humid with no rain. The average high
temperature is around the mid 30s at either end of the season, creeping
steadily towards around 40°C in the peak months of July and August. Night time
temperatures are usually around 10°C cooler than day time highs, but considering
the starting point might be 46°C, they provide little relief. The shallow
waters surrounding the islands heat up very quickly, reaching an average high
of 33°C in the peak months, and this means the usual moderating affects of
large bodies of water on islands and coastal areas is greatly lessened. It also
means high levels of evaporation which pushes humidity up very high, added to
by the moist northeast wind. The combination can only be described as awful. To
make matters worse a southwest wind sometimes blows over the area, originating
in the Sahara; this is hot, dry and often carries with it large clouds of sand.
Around June Bahrain can hope for a cooling north wind but it is by no means
reliable. The sun beats down for a
merciless eleven hours per day though the sky can often appear hazy. Rainfall
is non-existent, though it is a little unpredictable; while the country can be
expected to see a drought throughout the summer, a brief thunderstorm could
crop up at any time. This is unlikely but possible. Sandstorms can occur at any
time in Bahrain. Local weather forecasts are quite good at predicting them so
you should be forewarned.
Winter, from November till
April, is a real relief; it is cooler and less humid. The temperature drops
quickly at the beginning of the season and climbs quickly at the end, creating
the most pleasant times to visit Bahrain. January is the coldest month with an
average high of 20°C and an average low of 14°C. Surrounding January are
periods of enjoyable heat in the 20s though November and April are really very
hot with average highs around 30°C. Rainfall is very low and very erratic. In
winter the prevailing winds come from the southeast bringing humid air that
sometimes forms clouds and rain. Any rain that falls is most likely to fall in
these winter months, though some months remain totally dry and annual rainfall
varies greatly from year to year. January is usually the wettest month,
receiving a staggering average of 20 mm of rain... not a lot. Rain falls in
short torrential storms and due to the islands’ hard-baked or sandy terrain and
lack of vegetation, flash floods often occur. While the storms are heavy they
are not a reason to avoid Bahrain, and more a reason to visit during this
period as they lower temperatures. Sunshine levels reduce to their lowest level
of seven hours per day in December and January. The sea never gets below 20°C.
Sandstorms are most likely in the late winter months when the winds are at
their strongest.
Bahrain’s
consistently hot and rain-free climate has made it the perfect destination for
Formula One racing. This is the country’s largest tourist attraction, though in
contrast to this modern sport Bahrain also has ancient ruins with and exemplary
Moorish architecture. Due to its abundance of sunshine and white sand it is
also increasingly popular with those looking for typical beach holidays.
Windsurfing, sailing and kite-surfing are popular in Bahrain due to the regular
winds. Scuba diving and snorkelling are also popular activities though the damaged
reef is unlikely to be the main draw to the area. Bahrain has a number of
serious environmental problems due to rapid development and pollution and oil
spills from their oil industry. Fresh water sources are becoming increasingly
saline and any plant growth has been largely covered in concrete.
Bahrain is proud of its modernity and liberal
laws; it is the most progressive Gulf state in terms of human rights, crime is
low and healthcare is of a high standard so it is a relatively safe place to
visit. However, it is still an Islamic kingdom and tourists should be careful
to respect local customs in terms of dress and composure. While women have been
allowed to vote since 2002 and there are a number of women high up in central
government, tradition still dictates a rather rigid lifestyle for ‘honourable’
women. Burkhas are the accepted mode of dress for local women and visitors
should keep themselves modestly covered. Bikinis are strictly beach-only
attire. Men, of course, can wear whatever they like, unless they like mankinis
or skirts. Homosexuality is illegal but the law is enforced rather
sporadically.
