As forecast in the ‘Weekly Outlook’ issued on Sunday, the Maltese Islands are currently under the influence of an unstable air mass from over the Sahara Desert. This will be followed by a blast of cold air from Siberia, as was also forecast in Sunday’s ‘Weekly Outlook’.

With a maximum and minimum of 16 C and 9 C respectively, temperatures are currently at average levels for this time of year. The air is currently also quite hazy, and the sky is grey. This is all the impact of air being blown towards the central Mediterranean from the Sahara Desert. This state of affairs is anticipated to prevail till Saturday 23/02, when a low pressure system over the Balkans extends south towards our region. This will bring an abrupt change in weather conditions locally. A blast of cold air from over Siberia means that temperatures are set to plunge. For three to four days, from Sunday 24/02 till Wednesday 27/02, the Maltese Islands will experience highs in the region of 10 C to 13 C and lows that will range from 4 C to 7 C. In fact, Valletta is set to be colder than a number of capital cities at higher latitudes. Some isolated rain and/or hail showers are possible, especially on Saturday 23/02 and Sunday 24/02. The Northerly wind will be rather strong throughout the cold spell. It will reach Force 6/7 at its strongest, particularly on Saturday 23/02 and Sunday 24/02. The strong wind will drive real-feels to below 0 C on the coldest nights.

Normal temperatures are expected to return on Thursday 28/02 and last throughout Carnival time. The weather for Carnival time is expected to be mainly fine. More details about that at a later date in a separate post.

 

Kif imbassar fil-‘Weekly Outlook’ ta’ nhar il-Ħadd, il-Gżejjer Maltin bħalissa jinsabu fl-influewenza ta’ massa ta’ arja nstabbli minn fuq id-Deżert tas-Sahara. Din se tkun segwita minn massa ta’ arja kiesħa minn fuq is-Siberja, kif ukoll imbassar fil-‘Weekly Outlook’.

B’temperaturi massimi u minimu ta’ 16 C u 9 C rispettivament, it-temperaturi bħalissa jinsabu mal-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. L-arja hija mdaħħna u s-sema griż ukoll. Dan ukoll huwa l-impatt ta’ arja li laħqet iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran minn fuq id-Deżert tas-Sahara. Din is-sitwazzjoni mistenni tippersisti sa nhar is-Sibt 23/02, meta sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa minn fuq il-Balkani testendi ljn ir-reġjun tagħna. Din se ġġib magħha bidla drastika fit-temp. Massa ta’ arja kiesħa minn fuq is-Siberja tfisser li t-temperaturi se jaqgħu. Għal tlett ijiem jew erbgħa, mill-Ħadd 24/02 sa l-Erbgħa 27/02, il-Gżejjer Maltin se jesperjenza temperaturi massimi ta’ 10 C sa 13 C u dawk minimi ta’ 4 C sa 7 C. Fil-fatt, il-Belt Valletta se tkun aktar kiesħa minn bliet kapitali f’latitudni għola. Xi ftit ħalbiet tax-xita u/jew silġ huma possibli, speċjalment is-Sibt 23/02 u l-Ħadd 24/02. Ir-riħ mit-Tramuntana se jkun daqsxejn qawwi matul il-mewġa ta’ kesħa. Dan se jilħaq Forza 6/7, partikolarment is-Sibt 23/02 u l-Ħadd 24/02. Ir-riħ qawwi se jwassal biex it-temperaturi jinħassu ferm aktar kesħin. Filfatt, it-temperaturi minimi jafu jinħassu daqs li kieku taħt 0 C.

Temperaturi normali mistennija jirritornaw il-Ħamis 28/02 u jżommu matul iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tal-Karnival. It-temp għal-Karnival mistenni jkun sabiħ. Aktar dettalji dwar dan aktar tard u f’post separata.