Downpour In Bahrain

Thunderstorms, rarely seen at this time of year, dumped more rain on Bahrain in less than 24 hours than the Persian Gulf island sees in a year.

A record 2.72 inches of rain was recorded during a three-hour downpour late Sunday, the Bahrain Meteorological Service said.

The previous one-day record was 2.6 inches on April 7, 1961.

The storms continued Monday, and by noon 3.97 inches of rain had fallen over a 36-hour period, the meteorological office said. Winds measuring 50 mph whipped the emirate, it said.