Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 19.3°C 2nd and 3rd
Lowest Maximum 13.1°C 22nd and 28th
Highest Minimum 15.2°C 17th
Lowest Minimum 4.9°C 24th

 

Mean Maximum 16.2°C
Mean Minimum 10.0°C
Mean 13.1°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 95% Numerous days
Lowest Relative Humidity 52% 20th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 78.5%

 

Wind

Highest Gust 67.6km/h 10th

 

Mean Wind Speed 10.7km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1032.1hPa 1st
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1002.6hPa 27th

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.6hPa

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During January 2023 58.4 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 357.1 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 9.8 mm 26th and 27th

 

Rain Days 15 days
Thunderstorm Days 9 days
Hail Days 6 days

 

Rainfall Events

01/01/2023 0.3 mm Dew
02/01/2023 0.2 mm Light Rain
03/01/2023 0.3 mm Light Rain
09/01/2023 2.8 mm Rain and Hail Showers
10/01/2023 0.8 mm Rain Showers
12/01/2023 1.8 mm Light Rain
19/01/2023 1.3 mm Rain Showers; Distant Thunder
20/01/2023 3.1 mm A.M. Thunderstorm with Hail
21/01/2023 0.5 mm Light Rain
22/01/2023 9.3 mm Showers and Thunderstorms with Hail
24/01/2023 9.3 mm Steady Rain; Distant Thunder
25/01/2023 0.8 mm A.M. Light Rain; Distant Thunder
26/01/2023 9.8 mm Thunderstorm with Hail
27/01/2023 9.8 mm Thunderstorm; Rain and Hail Showers
28/01/2023 8.3 mm Thunderstorm with Hail; Showers
29/01/2023 0.0 mm Distant Thunder and Hail

 

January 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean January 2023 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 15.6°C 16.2°C  +0.6°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 9.8°C 10.0°C +0.2°C
Mean Temperature 12.7°C 13.1°C +0.4°C
Mean Relative Humidity 79.0% 78.4% -0.6%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.2hPa 1018.6hPa +0.4hPa
Total Rainfall 94.1 mm 58.4 mm -35.7 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 436.4 mm 357.1 mm -79.3 mm
Total Rain Days 14 days 15 days +1 day
Total Thunderstorm Days 4 days 9 days +5 days
Total Hail Days 1 day 6 days +5 days

 

The Two Faces of January 2023

The New Year started off with bright sunshine, warm temperatures and calm winds. This was the product of a persistent anticyclone that had covered the central Mediterranean since the start of meteorological winter. The anticyclone started fading away slowly, with the second week of January 2023 registering the first gale of the year. An abrupt cold snap bringing typical wintry weather started overnight on the 19th and lasted till the end of the month. This was the result of deep low pressure extending from mainland Europe towards the Mediterranean. It brought colder temperatures and eleven consecutive days with at least one shower being recorded at some point during the day.

Overall, where temperature is concerned, January 2023 turned out to be marginally warmer than average. Last month’s mean temperature of 13.1°C was just under half a degree above the climate norm. An episode of wintry temperatures in the final ten days of the month was not enough to tip the balance in favour of a colder than average trend. The rest of the month was marked by consistently warmer than average temperatures. The maximum temperature for last month was of 19.3°C, measured on both the 2nd and 3rd. In the early hours of the 24th, after a calm, clear and frosty night, the mercury dipped to last month’s coldest point of 4.9°C.

Around half of all days in January 2023 were characterized by showers. The rumbling thunder was heard on a staggering nine days. Hail was registered on six days. This wasn’t enough to produce the amount of rainfall expected in a typical January. In fact, the month’s total of 58.4 mm fell a third short of the climate norm. Although the average for January was not reached, the countryside still got a much-needed boost. For this boost to be enhanced, February needs to give us more of this precious rainfall. The last February to give us more rainfall that average was way back in 2018.

The highest wind gust recorded last month reached 67.6 km/h during a Mistral gale. This was also the first gale of 2023.

 

 

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in January 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 58.4 mm (357.1 mm)

Victoria: 49.9 mm (308.4 mm)

Xewkija: 47.6 mm (318.4 mm)

Nadur: 51.6 mm (298.6 mm)

Marsalforn: 47.6 mm (323.5 mm)

Mellieħa: 45.6 mm (279.4 mm)

Buġibba: 64.2 mm (341.5 mm)

Mġarr: 71.0 mm (313.9 mm)

Naxxar: 92.5 mm (404.9 mm)

Mosta: 80.2 mm (386.2 mm)

Dingli: 70.6 mm (325.4 mm)

Msida: 89.4 mm (452.4 mm)

Valletta: 76.1 mm (344.3 mm)

Imqabba: 66.7 mm (356.7 mm)

Żabbar: 75.0 mm (362.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 75.7 mm (286.3 mm)

Sliema: 91.5 mm (450.0 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 67.9 mm (347.6 mm)