"تقرير عسكري حول عربستان (المنطقة رقم ١٣)." [و‎‎٤‎٣] (٣٦٦/٩٠)

■with usually a brea c in February which divides the rainy season
into first rains and second rains as far as the agriculturist is
concerned The first rains falling as they do in December, and
at time > in November, soften the ground for ploughing and the
fina rains in M rch ive the necessary finishing touch to the
crops.
Daring the hot weather the rays of the sun are extremely Temperature,
fierce and the whole land become ^ p rched The hottest months
of the year are Jun • J ly and Aug ist the temperature generally
reach! ig its highes point in July, and hat rarely being much
abo ve 123 d3^re^s while at night it will drop as low as 80 degrees.
A temperature below 90 degrees at night is very tolerable.
A Meteorological record for the year 1922 at Maidan-i-Naftun
(Oil Fields), and Abadan is included at the end of the chapter.
It should be recollected that the summer of 1922 was an average
summer, and inclined to be cooler than most.
The prevailing wind during the greater part of the year comes
from the North West. In August and September and some
times as late as October 15th South East damp winds are pre
valent. The strong north-west winds are moderately cool till
June, after which they become hot by day but keep down the
temperature by night. In places where it comes off a sandy
desert, as is the case along the Karim after roughly the first 50
miles from Muhammarah, the dust carried by it is very irritating
to th 3 exposed parts of the body. The damp south-east wind
is the most trying to endure and the most unhealthy bringing
with it mosquitoes from the marshes, and as a result malaria.
Mosquitoe nets at this period are essential.
The average rainfall is from 12 to 15 inches, though in 1922
the highest recorded is 8*29 inches. There is a large decrease
running from North to South in the amount of rain that falls
in Arabistan, and this must be accounted for by the proximity
of the Northern districts to the hills, the proportion of rain that
falls in Dizful, Shushtar and Ahwaz being approximately 8:6:
4.
The amount of rain that fell during 1922 in Maidan-i-Naftun
and Abadan is recorded at the end of the chapter.
Mirage is experienced at all times of the year but to a less Mirage
degree in the summer. It is most intensive in March and April,
when visibility is sometimes restricted to half a mile.