Climate à Bahreïn
Bahrain has an arid subtropical climate, characterized by extreme temperatures and low rainfall. The year is divided into two seasons: a mild winter, from November to March, with temperatures between 14 and 27°C, and a sweltering summer, from May to September, when the mercury sometimes exceeds 48°C. But it's above all the summer humidity that makes the air suffocating, forcing residents to limit their daytime activities. Rainfall is rare, at just 72 mm per year, and concentrated in winter. Formerly supplied by groundwater, the country now depends on desalination plants for its drinking water. The archipelago also experiences episodes of sandstorms, sometimes very violent. Despite these climatic constraints, Bahrain has managed to adapt, thanks in particular to modern urbanization and air-conditioned infrastructures, making the archipelago a destination of choice, especially in winter.
Year-round warmth
Bahrain's climate is arid subtropical, characterized by high temperatures throughout the year and extremely low rainfall. Located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, the archipelago is directly influenced by the desert climate of the Arabian Peninsula, with alternating hot summers and mild winters.
The Bahraini year is divided into two distinct seasons. Winter, from November to March, is a pleasant period with temperatures ranging from 14 to 27°C. Nights can be chilly, especially in January and February, but overall this season is ideal for outdoor activities and vacations. This is the time when locals and visitors alike can take full advantage of beaches, parks and open spaces without suffering from the heat. Mornings and late afternoons are particularly mild, providing the perfect setting for admiring a sunset over the Persian Gulf Sea, for example from the promontory of Qalat Al Bahrain.
An arid and extreme climate
On the other hand, the Bahraini summer, which runs from May to September, is hard to bear because of the extreme heat and oppressive humidity. Average temperatures are around 40°C, with peaks frequently exceeding 48°C in July and August. These temperatures alone are enough to make the atmosphere suffocating, but it's the humidity above all that makes this period so trying. The sea, heated by a blazing sun, reaches 37°C, resulting in massive evaporation and relative humidity of up to 95%. The air becomes stiflingly heavy, making any exertion painful and drastically limiting outdoor activities. In the hottest months, life seems to come to a standstill between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., with the streets emptying almost completely at these times. Most residents and workers adapt by adapting their rhythm of life to the more clement hours, favoring early-morning or late-night outings.
While Bahrain has no real spring or autumn, the months of April and October are transitional periods when temperatures are much more bearable, fluctuating between 25 and 35°C. These shoulder seasons offer a respite before and after the months of extreme heat, with warm but pleasant days and cooler evenings.
Almost no rainfall
Like all desert territories, Bahrain receives very little rainfall throughout the year. With an annual average of around 72 mm, rainfall is scarce and irregular, falling only a few days a year. It is concentrated in winter, in the form of brief but sometimes intense showers. January and February are the wettest months, with a few heavy weekly showers. However, this rainfall is still insufficient to supply the archipelago with drinking water.
So rain is carefully collected and used for irrigation, but its contribution remains marginal in the face of the population's growing needs. Historically, Bahrain benefited from a rare geological feature in the region: natural water tables that fed freshwater springs. Some of these springs even gushed directly into the sea, creating areas of brackish water and enabling the first civilizations to settle permanently on the archipelago. This phenomenon gave Bahrain its name, meaning "the two seas", in reference to the salty waters of the Persian Gulf and the fresh underground waters. However, over the decades, excessive exploitation of the water tables has led to their depletion and the gradual intrusion of salt water. Today, the country's main source of drinking water comes from desalination plants, which produce around 60% of the water consumed in Bahrain. Although costly and energy-intensive, this process has become essential to meet the country's domestic, industrial and agricultural needs.
Seasonal winds and sandstorms
In addition to heat and humidity, Bahrain is subject to seasonal winds that influence its climate. Two main winds blow across the archipelago throughout the year. The Shamal, a cool, dry north-westerly wind, blows mainly in winter from Iraq. It brings milder temperatures, but can also cause gusty winds and rough seas. The Qaw, a hot, dry wind originating in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, blows in summer, accentuating the feeling of heat. It can kick up major sandstorms, reducing visibility and making travel difficult.
Sandstorms, which are relatively rare, can occur at any time of year, with a higher frequency in summer. These sometimes spectacular weather episodes are caused by winds sweeping across the region's desert expanses, raising clouds of dust that invade the atmosphere. In just a few hours, the sky can take on an ochre hue and visibility is considerably reduced, affecting air and road traffic. However, these phenomena are punctual and should not disturb your vacation to any great extent.
A climate that's tough but well-suited to tourism
Despite its difficult climate, Bahrain has managed to turn these extreme conditions into a real asset. Thanks to modern urbanization and infrastructure, air conditioning is ubiquitous in homes, hotels and shopping malls. This provides moments of respite when the stifling summer heat makes it difficult to get around. A climatic reality taken into account by the tourism industry. Beaches and resorts do their utmost to make it possible to enjoy the sea without dying of heat: on most private beaches, misters, fans and umbrellas make sunbathing comfortable. So, while winter and the shoulder seasons remain the ideal times to discover the archipelago, it's also possible to enjoy Bahrain's riches in summer.
