Page 479 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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The relative humidity is high throughout the year. The average daily mean for the period
1947-1951 never fell below 62 per cent, and during the same period 100 per cent, was reached in
January, February, March, June, September and November. In any year it is not uncommon
for 100 per cent, humidity to be reached on 80 days of the year.
TABLE 6
Relative Humidity (Period 1947-1951)
Av. Daily Max. Min.
mean
January 75 100 33
February 75 100 27
March 70 100 22
April 67 97 17
May 64 99 18
June 62 100 20
July 64 93 22
August 66 96 21
September 68 100 20
October 72 97 25
November 71 96 29
December 75 100 31
The mean annual temperature for the five years 1947 to 1951 was 78.8°F. The hottest
months, April to October (inclusive) generally show mean temperatures of between 80° and 95°,
while the maximum daily temperatures are between 95° and 105°.
TABLE 7

Jan. F. M. A. M. J. Jul. A. S. O. N. D.
1947 :
Av. Daily Mean.. 65 65 73 82 90 92 90 90 85 82 82 74
Maximum 80 78 91 108 116 117 114 111 103 100 96 93
Minimum 48 47 55 64 72 76 76 74 68 67 64 47
1950
Av. Daily Mean.. 59 59 67 76 83 89 92 93 90 85 77 67
Maximum 76 73 80 93 97 103 104 104 100 98 87 80
Minimum 44 45 57 61 70 79 83 82 80 74 66 59
1951
Av. Daily Mean.. 65 65 69 78 86 90 93 94 92 85 75 67
Maximum 78 85 88 100 101 102 109 107 103 101 90 81
Minimum 51 54 60 63 76 82 83 80 83 71 65 54

For most days of the year there is a light to moderate north-west wind known locally as a
“shamal” and this is most often a cooling wind : it is not always dry. The south wind is always
very dry and usually moderate to strong : it may appear at any time of year except perhaps at
the height of the summer but is to be expected mostly from November to April : it is much less
frequent than the “shamal” and often causes greater hindrance to agriculture. Being exceed­
ingly hot and dry and, as likely as not, powerful, it is most unwelcome just after planting has
been completed and germination is expected, or at time of fertilisation.

IV. The Crops
Bahrain’s climate is such that a wide variety of crops can be grown with varying success,
but in the main there are only two crops, namely lucerne and dates, which are thoroughly
economic. Many European vegetables are grown in winter generally with success, as are
cucurbits in summer.