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)