Severe thunderstorms to start of the month...

Last edited: Tuesday, May 26, 2020

On the 1st, a cold front combined with a pre-frontal trough caused a quasi-linear convective system, producing a number of couplets (potential waterspouts) to the near-east of the island. As this system consolidated and intensified over the island, a 46kt gust was recorded at the airport. Heavy rain fell in a very short period of time, dropping 1.11" of rain in mostly 30 minutes. The maximum and minimum were 22.5C/73F and 18C/65F. On the 2nd, preexisting rain bands linked to the thunderstorm complex brought another 1.65" of rain during the early morning period.Soon after dawn, sunshine and stability prevailed with 10.4 hours of sunshine and a high temperature of 22.5C/72.5F and a low of 18C/64F. High pressure dominated the pattern on May 3, with light to moderate west northwesterly winds and sunny skies. Temperatures reached a high of 22C/72F and a low of 18C/65F. Southwest winds on the 4th increased to 20 knots by evening, but with no significant weather. Maximum temperature was 23C/73F, and the low got down to 18C/64F. Great day on the 5th with a max/min of 73.9F_23.3C/66.2F_66.2C with 12.2 hours of sunshine. May 6th was warm reaching 75.6F/25.2C and dry with 8.2hr of sunshine broken up by some low cloud at times as a warm front moved over in the morning. An active cold front with showers and thunderstorms passed over us during the afternoon of the 7th providing 0.28" of rainfall then brightening to top up the sunshine at nearly 6hrs and as high pressure passed just to our north on the 8th we recorded 12.2 hrs of sunshine but there was a cool north breeze and the high only reached 70F/21C. High pressure exited later on the 9th, as the day was mostly sunny with a high of 24C/75F. The night was partly to mostly cloudy as a weak cold front passed bringing 0.03" of rainfall. High pressure rapidly built behind the front as a mix of sun and cloud was observed with 10.7 hours of sunshine and another abnormally cool high of 20C/68F. The night became overcast with light rain as an influx of tropical moisture approached the island. A nearby warm front carrying tropical air gave us 0.62" of rainfall on the 11th. Low overcast skies were observed all day and night while the high reached 72F/22C and the low fell to 61F/16C.
A cold front departed during the day leaving only 0.22" of rain. Sunshine prevailed late afternoon after a max of 22.1°C/71.8°F. Near-average minimum temperatures with 21.8°C/71.2°F. Early cloud on the 14th gave a few stray shower in the marine area, however the majority of the day was filled with sunshine, however the temperatures were slightly cooler than average with both the high and low. The cool trend continued with the light north flow on the 15th while the sun burned 11.6hrs on the card. As the high passed to our north on the 15th light wind veered east and the ridge set up over our region and the day was pleasant with over 12 hours of sunshine, yet still cool with a high near 68F/20C. As the ridge elongated from east to west, light local winds fluctuated between south to east on the 16th resulting in temperatures, as well as the humidity rising. A band of convergence within warm tropical air moved over the island during the late afternoon to evening on the 17th bringing some mist and 0.38" of rain. Humidity remained high on the 18th, ranging between 83-96% as the mostly cloudy cloudy conditions persisted though there was little rainfall over the island. The respective max and min temperatures were 25C/76F and 22C/71F. Tropical storm Arthur became post-tropical while drawing high humidity levels on the 19th. Only light falls recorded from passing showers with 1.5mm with a max and min of 26.4°C/79.5° - 22.1°C/71.8°F. ON the 20th, the remnants of Arthur hovered to our northeast during the day then moved over Bermuda around midnight. It brought 13mm with a max of 23.6°C/74.5°F and min of 18.9°C/66°F. Pearl island reported 33 knots sustained with gusts to 55 knots. On the 21st, strong easterly winds persisted with only 0.3mm recorded. The temperatures were pleasant with a max 23.1°C/73.6°F and min 18.8°C/65.8°F. High pressure prevailed on the 22nd with 8 hours of sunshine and a max_min of 23.6°C/74.5°F_19.3°C/66.7°F. Nil precipitation recorded. The high lingered on the 23rd, though a few early showers gave a trace of rainfall it brightened with 11.6 hours of sunshine to reach 74.7F/23.7C with a light southeast flow, which persisted into the 24th. Thin high cloud thickened around mid-day, thus only 7.6hrs of sun shine marked the card, however it was bright and warmed up to nearly average temperatures, topping at 76.5F/24.7C. A few light showers dotted RADAR and dampened parts of the Island on the 25th, but once again the ridge settled overall conditions, southeast winds persisted and the same daily high was recorded.

Produced by the Bermuda Weather Service

Unless otherwise stated, all statistical data are based on observations taken at the Bermuda International Airport.