ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

An intense storm system over the Iberian Peninsula drifted slowly east as it disintegrated. Its remnants traversed the central Mediterranean, and brought with them colder air. This colder air has clashed with the very warm and moist air locally, sparking instability. Of particular interest is a low pressure system that formed over the Gulf of Genoa. As a result of this, the atmosphere above the central Mediterranean is likely to remain unstable into next week. The Maltese Islands should be affected in several ways.

Temperature: The colder air will lower temperatures substantially. Temperatures will be at or below average for much of the coming week. Over the coming week, maximum temperatures will be at an of average of 14°C, whilst minimum temperature will be in the region of 9°C. Temperatures could dip to as low as 6°C on some nights. Real feels will be much colder at times, particularly in strong winds.

Wind: The Northwest to West wind will be strong to very strong at times till late on Thursday 14/1. The wind increases substantially prior to and during any isolated showers. Isolated showers will be possible at any time. The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the afternoon on Thursday 14/1, when they could reach Force 9 across exposed areas. The sea will be rough to very rough at times with a significant wave height of 4 meters from the Northwest in peak gusts. The wind should veer East on Friday 15/1, and continue reaching Force 6 at times. Whilst we’re expecting Saturday 16/1 to be calmer, further strong winds from the Northwest are possible on towards the end of this week and the beginning of the next.

Rainfall: A few isolated showers will occur from time to time till late on Thursday 14/1. Possibly thundery and/or with small hail at times, these will be accompanying the strong to very strong Northwest to West Northwest wind. The center of the low pressure system may traverse the central Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing further (and possibly heavier) showers then. Rain will be clean.

Updates will follow when and if necessary.

MALTI / MALTESE

Sistema ta’ maltemp intensa fuq il-Penisola Iberika resqet bilmod lejn il-lvant waqt li bdiet tiddgħajjef. Il-fdalijiet ta’ din għaddew minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran, u ġabu magħhom arja kiesħa. Din l-arja kiesħa ltaqgħet ma’ l-arja sħuna u umda li kellna madwarna, u ħolqot instabbilita’. Ta’ interess partikolari għalina tkun sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa li żviluppat fuq il-Golf ta’ Ġenoa. Din se tkun il-kaġun li l-atmosfera fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran tibqa instabbli anke sal-ġimgħa li ġejja. Il-Gżejjer Maltin se jkunu affetwati f’diversi modi.

Temperatura: L-arja kiesħa se twaqqa t-temperaturi b’mod sostanzzjali. It-temperaturi se jkun mal-medja jew ftit anqas għal biċċa l-kbira ta’ din il-ġimgħa. Matul is-sebat ijiem li ġejjin, l-ogħla se tkun mal-medja ta’ 14°C, filwaqt li l-anqas se tkun fir-reġjun ta’ 9°C. It-temperatura taf tinżel sa 6°C f’xi ljieli. It-temperaturi se jkunu jinħassu ferm anqas ukoll kultant, speċjalment minħabba r-riħ qawwi.

Riħ: Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral għal Punent Majjistru se jkun qawwi għal qawwi ħafna kultant sa tard il-Ħamis 14/1.  Ir-riħ jitqawwa sew qabel u waqt ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita. Ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita se jkunu possibli minn ħin għal ieħor. Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija se jaħkmu l-Gżejjer Maltin matul wara nofsinhar tal-Ħamis 14/1, meta dawn se jilħqu Forza 9 fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti. Il-baħar se jkun qawwi għal qawwi ħafna kultant b’mewġ għoli 4 metri mill-Majjistral fl-aktar buffuri intensi. Ir-riħ għandu jdur Lvant il-Ġimgħa 15/1, u għandu jibqa jilħaq Forza 6 kultant. Għalkemm aħna nistennew li s-Sibt 16/1 ikun jum aktar kalm, aktar riħ qawwi mill-Majjistral huwa possible lejn tmiem il-ġimgħa u l-bidu tad-dieħla.

Xita: Xi ftit ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita se jxarrbuna minn ħin għal ieħor sa tard il-Ħamis 14/1. Dawn jistgħu jkunu bir-ragħad u/jew silġ żgħir kultant, u se jakkumpanjaw l-aktar buffuri qawwija. Ma’ tmiem il-ġimgħa, jaf imissna ċ-ċentru tas-sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa. F’dan il-każ, jaf ikollna aktar (u possibilment aktar qawwija) ħalbiet tax-xita. Ix-xita se tkun nadifa.

Aġġornamenti se jsegwu meta u kif ikun bżonn.