October this year was the hottest on record in Bahrain, it has emerged.

The Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) Meteorological Directorate said the mean temperature of the month was 30.7 degree C, which was 1.5C more than average.

'This is the highest-ever temperature recorded in October since 1902 when records came into existence in Bahrain,' said CAA Meteorology assistant under-secretary Abdul Majeed Isa.

'The old record was 27.2C, which was recorded in October 1957.'

He said the maximum temperature during the month was recorded on October 6, when it was 37.2C.

'During the month, Bahrain had 11 days with the maximum temperature reaching 35C or more.'

Isa said the mean relative humidity for the month was 59 per cent, again a record as the lowest mean monthly relative humidity for October.

'This month also set a new record for the lowest mean maximum relative humidity for October, at 73 per cent,' he said. 'The old record was 74 per cent, set in October last year.'

Humidity

Isa said the mean minimum relative humidity for the month was 41 per cent, going on record as the fifth lowest for October.

'This was similar to October 2007 and only exceeded by October last year (37 per cent), October 2006 (38 per cent), October 1965 and October 1996 (39 per cent) as well as October 1989, 2001 and 2003 (40 per cent).'

Earlier, our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) reported September this year was the second hottest September ever recorded in Bahrain.

The mean temperature for the month was 34.3C and was only exceeded by the 34.5C, which was recorded in September 1998.

Last August had been named the third hottest month ever, with a mean temperature of 35.7C.

It was only slightly cooler than the hottest month on record, which was recorded in August 1998 with a mean temperature of 36.5C.

The second hottest month on record was August 2000, with a mean temperature of 35.8C.

This year also saw the highest ever temperature in June, when the mercury touched 46.9C on June 20.

That was more than a degree hotter than the previous record of 45.8C, set in 2008.-TradeArabia News Service