Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 29.7°C 10th
Lowest Maximum 25.1°C 26th
Highest Minimum 25.2°C 20th
Lowest Minimum 16.8°C 15th

 

Mean Maximum 27.1°C
Mean Minimum 19.6°C
Mean 23.3°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 94% Numerous days
Lowest Relative Humidity 45% 10th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 79.0%

 

Wind

Highest Gust 43.5km/h 20th and 21st

 

Mean Wind Speed 7.5km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction South Southeast

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1024.4hPa 3rd and 4th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1003.4hPa 21st

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.0hPa

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During October 2023 0.3 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 7.0 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 0.3 mm 19th

 

Rain Days 1 day
Thunderstorm Days 0 days
Hail Days 0 days

 

Rainfall Events

19/10/2023 0.3 mm Mist/Fog and Dew

 

 

October 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean October 2023 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 24.8°C 27.1°C  +2.3°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 18.5°C 19.6°C +1.1°C
Mean Temperature 21.7°C 23.3°C +1.6°C
Mean Relative Humidity 77.4% 79.0% +1.6%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1017.8hPa 1018.0hPa +0.2hPa
Total Rainfall 86.4 mm 0.3 mm -86.1 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 142.3 mm 7.0 mm -135.3 mm
Total Rain Days 10 days 1 day -9days
Total Thunderstorm Days 6 days 0 days -6days
Total Hail Days 1 day 0 days -1day

 

October 2023 was Extremely Warm and Driest in a Century

The second month of meteorological autumn, October 2023, was the warmest in decades and the driest in a century.

The overall mean temperature of 23.3°C registered by  our weather station, was a staggering 1.6°C warmer than the climate norm. The mean maximum temperature of 27.1°C exceeded the climate norm by 2.3°C! The mean minimum temperature of 19.6°C was 1.1°C warmer than in a typical October. With a maximum temperature of 29.7°C, the warmest day last October was the 10th. A spell of very warm temperatures was also recorded from the 18th till the 21st. Temperature values at the MetOffice in Malta International Airport were warm enough to be classified as a heatwave. The night from the 19th through to the 20th broke the record for the warmest October night on record. The minimum temperature that night was at a summery 25.2°C.

There was only one rainy episode of instability last month. This was on the 1st and brought a localized shower to parts of central Malta. Dew produced some measurable precipitation on a number of nights in the second half of October. Total rainfall at our weather station stood at 0.3 mm. This was a trace compared to the 86.4 mm expected in a typical October. October is normally the third wettest month of the year.

October 2023 was also marked by a lack of wind. There was also one episode of strong winds. This spanned the 20th and 21st with a very warm Southerly wind. The highest wind gust was registered at 45.6km/h. The mean wind speed last month was of 7.5km/h. Southerly winds were by far the predominant wind directions last month, blowing on more than half of all the days.

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

Għarb: 0.3 mm (7.0 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (4.8 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (8.6 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (9.4 mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (7.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (22.0 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (24.9 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (21.4 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (24.8 mm)

Mosta: 0.3 mm (25.9 mm)

Dingli: 0.0 mm (12.5 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (44.3 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (30.4 mm)

Imqabba: 0.3 mm (25.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 1.0 mm (26.2 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 mm (35.3 mm)

Fgura: 0.0 mm (34.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.1 mm (21.5 mm)