August 2018 was the wettest in recent years. 40.4 mm were measured at our weather station in Għarb. This was spread over four days (the 6th, 20th, 21st and 22nd). Thunderstorms occurred on two of these four days. Daytime highs were cooler while nighttime highs were warmer. The cooler than average maximum temperatures could be explained by the cooling effect normally brought about by the first rain. What are the expectations for August 2019? When will the first rain drench the Maltese Islands? Latest long-term maps do indicate an early autumn, but it will not be as early as last year. The rain is unlikely to start before Santa Marija, although an episode of isolated showers is possible before then. These are still early days, but preliminary long-term maps are indicating that the first ‘real’ rain will drench the Maltese Islands just after Santa Marija. This will be confirmed by future maps.

Awwissu 2018 kien l-aktar imxarrab fl-aħħar snin. 40.1 mm ta’ xita kienu ġew imkejjla fl-istazzjon metejoroloġiku tagħna fl-Għarb. Din kienet mifruxa fuq erbat ijiem (6th, 20th, 21st u 22nd). Maltempati bir-ragħad kienu ħakmuna f’jumejn minn dawn l-erbat ijiem. L-ogħla temperatura kienet aktar friska mill-medja, filwaqt li l-anqas billejl kienet aktar sħuna minn normal. L-ogħla temperatura kienet anqas minn normal minħabba l-arja friska li ġġib magħha l-ewwel xita. X’qed nistennew għal Awwissu 2019? Meta se jkollna l-ewwel xita fil-Gżejjer Maltin? L-aħħar mapep fit-tul jindikaw ħarifa bikrija. Minkejja dan, il-ħarifa mhux se tibda kmieni daqs is-sena l-oħra. Ix-xita ma jidhirx li se tibda qabel Santa Marija, għalkemm xi episodju ta’ ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita huwa possibbli qabel dakinhar. Għadu kmieni, imma l-ewwel mapep qed juru li l-ewwel xita ‘vera’ għandha tmissna eżatt wara Santa Marija. Din se tkun konfermata minn mapep futuri.