Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 31.0°C 17th
Lowest Maximum 20.7°C 20th
Highest Minimum 18.6°C 29th, 30th and 31st 
Lowest Minimum 14.0°C 13th

 

Mean Maximum 24.5°C
Mean Minimum 16.7°C
Mean 20.1°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 94% Several Days
Lowest Relative Humidity 21% 16th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 67.9%

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1024.1hPa 4th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1014.0hPa 1st

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1019.0hPa

 

Wind

Highest Gust 53.1km/h 20th

 

Mean Wind Speed 6.6km/h
Mean Gust Speed 16.1km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed 11.4km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During May 2021 0.0 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 414.7 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total / /

 

Rain Days 0
Thunderstorm Days 0
Hail Days 0

 

May 2021 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean May 2021 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 23.4°C 24.5°C +1.1°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 15.8°C 16.7°C +0.9°C
Mean Temperature 19.6°C 20.1°C +0.5°C
Mean Relative Humidity 74% 67.9% -6.1%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1015.3hPa 1019.0hPa +3.7hPa
Mean Wind Speed 17.0 km/h 11.4 km/h -5.6 km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest Northwest
Total Rainfall 9.9 mm 0.0 mm -9.9 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 543.6 mm 414.7 mm -128.9 mm
Total Rain Days 3 days 0 days -3 days
Total Thunderstorm Days 1 day 0 days -1 day
Total Hail Days 0 days 0 days /

 

Completely Dry and Warmer in May 2021

May 2021 was characterized by its warmer than average temperatures. Successive pressure systems of north African origin traversed the central Mediterranean last month, carrying with them warm air masses from over the Sahara Desert. The overall mean temperature of 20.1°C was half a degree warmer than the mean. The warmest day in May 2021 was the 17th, with a daytime high of 31.0°C being registered on the day. This was the only day with a maximum temperature of 30°C +

No rain was measured over the course of May 2021. This may be down to prevalent ridges of high pressure across the eastern Mediterranean which were sufficient enough to keep rain away from the central Mediterranean. Another probable contributing factor to this was the frequent prescence of layers of warm and dry air aloft. This caused any falling precipitation to re-evaporate before reaching the ground. Evidence supporting this theory was the regular appearance of virga clouds.

May 2021 lived up to its expectation of being a breezy month. In fact, 16 days featured wind speeds of at least Force 5 at times.