Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 22.8°C 2nd
Lowest Maximum 15.6°C 18th
Highest Minimum 19.8°C 1st
Lowest Minimum 10.3°C 29th

 

Mean Maximum 17.9°C
Mean Minimum 13.6°C
Mean 15.7°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 93% Numerous days
Lowest Relative Humidity 55% 16th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 76.7%

 

Wind

Highest Gust 53.1km/h 22nd

 

Mean Wind Speed 13.3km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1030.0hPa 18th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1003.4hPa 9th

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.6hPa

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During December 2023 37.2 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 130.2 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 17.6 mm 18th

 

Rain Days 14 days
Thunderstorm Days 1 day
Hail Days 1 day

 

Rainfall Events

5/12/2023 0.3 mm Light Rain
6/12/2023 0.9 mm Light Rain
7/12/2023 1.7 mm Light Rain
8/12/2023 1.3 mm Light Rain
9/12/2023 9.0 mm Showers
10/12/2023 0.3 mm Light Rain
14/12/2023 0.5 mm Light Rain
15/12/2023 1.0 mm Light Rain
16/12/2023 0.0 mm Distant Thunderstorms and Hail
17/12/2023 2.5 mm Showers
18/12/2023 17.6 mm Rainy
20/12/2023 1.0 mm Light Rain
21/12/2023 0.3 mm Light Rain
22/12/2023 0.8 mm Light Rain

 

December 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean December 2023 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 17.1°C 17.9°C  +0.8°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 11.8°C 13.6°C +1.8°C
Mean Temperature 14.5°C 15.7°C +1.2°C
Mean Relative Humidity 79.3% 76.7% -2.6%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.0hPa 1018.6hPa +0.6hPa
Total Rainfall 83.3 mm 37.2 mm -46.1 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 320.5 mm 130.2 mm -190.3 mm
Total Rain Days 12 days 14 days +2days
Total Thunderstorm Days 3 days 1 day -2days
Total Hail Days 2 days 1 day -1day

 

Warmer and Drier in December 2023

 December 2023, the final month of the year and the first month of the meteorological winter, continued the trend of warmer and drier than average weather set by previous months.

With a mean temperature of 15.7°C, December 2023 was 1.2°C warmer than the norm. The anomaly was more pronounced with minimum temperatures. Whilst maximum temperatures were  0.8°C warmer than average, minimum temperatures exceeded the climatic norm by a staggering 1.8°C. The opening two days were the month’s warmest, with a 22.8°C maximum temperature being registered on the 2nd. The coldest temperature last month was registered in the predawn hours of the 29th, when thermometers recorded a minimum temperature of 10.3°C. Minimum temperatures exceeded the climate norm on a staggering 22 nights.

December 2023 was significantly drier than average. A meagre 37.2 mm of rain was measured by our weather station in Għarb. At 45.4 mm, the national mean was only slightly higher. This is less than half what one would expect in December. Despite this, rain was observed on a total 14 days. The vast majority of these yielded less than 1 mm each, with light rain being the most common form of precipitation in December 2023. There were three main episodes of instability. The one from the 16th through to the 18th accounted for the month’s only day to feature thunder and hail. With a total of 17.6 mm over 24 hours, the 18th was last month’s wettest day.

There were also three episodes of strong wind. These coincided with the rainy days; one at the start of the month, another halfway through the month and another just before Christmas Day. The highest gust reached Force 8 from the Northwest on the 22nd of the month.

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

Għarb: 37.2 mm (130.2 mm)

Victoria: 36.8 mm (126.0 mm)

Xewkija: 25.2 mm (83.8 mm)

Nadur: 39.3 mm (140.7 mm)

Marsalforn: 25.8 mm (91.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 27.4 mm (101.6 mm)

Buġibba: 47.4 mm (133.6 mm)

Mġarr: 45.9 mm (137.5 mm)

Naxxar: 57.1 mm (152.1 mm)

Mosta: 67.2 mm (150.0 mm)

Dingli: 62.6 mm (155.6 mm)

Msida: 43.7 mm (141.6 mm)

Valletta: 27.2 mm (104.1 mm)

Imqabba: 74.2 mm (159.0 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 46.6 mm (135.6 mm)

Sliema: 52.1 mm (134.4 mm)

Fgura: 56.2 mm (139.9 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 45.4 mm (130.4 mm)