The first day of the week will be characterized by areas of high pressure that are extending from over the Azores to cover much of the Mediterranean. These will act to deviate storm systems north, ensuring fine weather on Monday 18/02. Anticyclonic conditions will mean clear skies and light winds for the Maltese Islands. Because no clouds are present to reflect sunlight during the day, there is more incoming solar radiation and temperatures rise to warmer than average levels. At night, the absence of cloud cover means that outgoing long wave radiation is left not blocked, allowing the nighttime lows to dip to well below average.
The areas of high pressure will begin to weaken on Tuesday 19/02. This will make way for two successive systems of low pressure to penetrate the central Mediterranean. These will mark the return of unstable weather conditions to the Maltese Islands.
The first will be a cut-off low from over north Africa. A light to moderate wind from the East to Southeast associated with this system will cause temperatures to rise to slightly above average around midweek. There will be the chance of a little light rain from this system, particularly on Thursday 21/02. Being of north African origin, any rainfall will deposit fine desert sand.
A more intense low pressure system from over the Balkans will manage to penetrate the central Mediterranean next weekend. This will restore wintry conditions to the Maltese Islands. Cold temperatures, light to moderate winds from the East to Northeast and clean rain showers will return by late on Friday 22/02. These will prevail throughout the weekend.
Taking a look at the weather across the Maltese Islands over the coming week, the average maximum temperature will be around 15°C, with a high for the week of 16°C expected in the afternoon of Tuesday 19/02. Meanwhile, the average minimum temperature will be 9°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Monday 18/02 at 6°C. The week ahead will remain predominantly dry, with only a little light rain on a few days. On the whole winds are likely to be light to moderate, with the strongest being on Thursday 21/02 and Sunday 24/02, when the Easterly wind reaches Force 4/5.
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