An intense low pressure system of north African origin will traverse the central Mediterranean on Wednesday 25/03 and Thursday 26/03. This will generate two separate gales: a Scirocco on Wednesday and a Mistral on Thursday.

The Scirocco gale-force wind warning is valid from midnight on Tuesday 24/03 till 18:00 on Wednesday 25/03. The Mistral gale-force wind warning is valid from midnight on Wednesday 25/03 till 15:00 on Thursday 26/03. It will be updated when and if necessary. The details below describe how the situation will develop over this time period:

Wednesday 25/03 

00:00 to 03:00 – East Southeast Force 5/6 to 6/7

03:00 to 06:00 – East Southeast Force 6/7

06:00 to 09:00 – East Southeast Force 6/7 to 7/8

09:00 to 12:00 – East Southeast Force 7/8

12:00 to 15:00 – East Southeast Force 7/8 to 6/7

15:00 to 18:00 – East Southeast Force 6/7 to 5/6

Thursday 26/03

00:00 to 03:00 – West Northwest Force 5/6 to 6/7

03:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest Force 6/7 to 7/8

06:00 to 09:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

09:00 to 12:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8 to 6/7

12:00 to 15:00 – West Northwest Force 6/7 to 5/6

The peak Scirocco gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the morning on Wednesday 25/03. On the other hand, the peak Mistral gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in morning on Thursday 26/03. They could reach Force 9 across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands.

The wind will appear to die down completely in the evening of Wednesday 25/03. It will then turn West Northwest and increase rapidly again.

The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 8.5 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be low to moderate East on both days. The map shows the area of coastline most exposed to this strong wind and rough sea.

 

Sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa intensa li oriġinat fl-Afrika ta’ fuq se tgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran nhar l-Erbgħa 25/03 u l-Ħamis 26/03. Din se tikkaġuna żewġt irwiefen separati: wieħed mix-Xlokk l-Erbgħa u ieħor mill-Majjistral il-Ħamis.

It-twissija għal riefnu mix-Xlokk se tkun fis-seħħ minn nofsillejl tat-Tlieta 24/03 sa 18:00 ta’ l-Erbgħa 25/03. It-tieni twssija, dik għal riefnu mill-Majjistral, se tkun fis-seħħ minn nofsillejl ta’ l-Erbgħa 25/03 sa 15:00 tal-Ħamis 26/03. Dan ikun aġġornat x’ħin u jekk ikun hemm bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt jindikaw kif se tkun qed tiżviluppa din is-sitwazzjoni matul il-ħin imsemmi:

L-Erbgħa 25/03 

00:00 sa 03:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 5/6 għal 6/7

03:00 sa 06:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 6/7

06:00 sa 09:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 6/7 għal 7/8

09:00 sa 12:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 7/8

12:00 sa 15:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 7/8 għal 6/7

15:00 sa 18:00 – Xlokk il-Lvant Forza 6/7 għal 5/6

Il-Ħamis 26/03

00:00 sa 03:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 5/6 għal 6/7

03:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6/7 għal 7/8

06:00 sa 09:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

09:00 sa 12:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8 għal 6/7

12:00 sa 15:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6/7 għal 5/6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija mix-Xlokk se jolqtuna l-Erbgħa 25/03 filgħodu. Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija mill-Majjistral se jolqtuna l-Ħamis 26/03 filgħodu. Dawn jistgħu jilħqu Forza 9 fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin.

Ir-riħ se jagħti l-ħjiel li qed jieqaf kumpletament l-Erbgħa 25/03 filgħaxija. Madankollu se jdur Punent Majjistru u jżid f’daqqa.

Il-baħar se jkun imqalleb ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 8.5 metri fil-buffuri l-aktar qawwija. L-imbatt ikun baxx għal moderat mill-Lvant matul il-jumejn li huma. Il-mappa turi l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ qawwi u baħar imqalleb.