Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 31.3°C 3rd
Lowest Maximum 19.4°C 28th
Highest Minimum 23.4°C 3rd 
Lowest Minimum 13.5°C 28th

 

Mean Maximum 23.7°C
Mean Minimum 18.5°C
Mean 21.1°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 93% Several Days
Lowest Relative Humidity 44% 6th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 72.4%

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1026.1hPa 22nd
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1005.8hPa 3rd

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1017.4hPa

 

Wind

Highest Gust 54.7km/h 28th

 

Mean Wind Speed 11.0km/h
Mean Gust Speed 19.6km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed 15.3km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction West Southwest

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During October 2020 32.5 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 166.2 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 12.3 mm 27th

 

Rain Days 7
Thunderstorm Days 3
Hail Days 0

 

October 2020 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean October 2020 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 24.5°C 23.7°C -0.8°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 18.2°C 18.5°C +0.3°C
Mean Temperature 21.4°C 21.1°C -0.3°C
Mean Relative Humidity 78% 72.4% -5.6%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1017.6hPa 1017.4hPa -0.2hPa
Mean Wind Speed 14.1 km/h 15.3 km/h +1.2km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest West Southwest -67.5°
Total Rainfall 89.0 mm 32.5 mm -56.5 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 138.9 mm 166.2 mm +27.3 mm
Total Rain Days 9 7 -2
Total Thunderstorm Days 5 3 -2
Total Hail Days 1 0 -1

 

A Marginally Cooler but Significantly Drier October 2020

Overall, October 2020 turned out to be marginally cooler than the climate norm. At 23.7°C, daytime highs were almost a solid 0.8°C cooler than normal. Nights on the other hand, with an 18.5°C mean, were slightly warmer. Last month started off on a very warm note. It was the third October in the past decade to record a maximum temperature of over 30°C. This was on the 3rd, when the mercury shot up to 31.3°C. The transition to the cool season gained strong momentum during the second half of the month. Successive pockets of cooler air from over Europe meant a good number of days with cooler than average temperatures. A 13.5°C low, the coldest for October 2020, was registered on the 29th. This was accompanied by rain and strong winds brought about by a sharp cold front.

In a stark contrast to the previous month, October 2020 was very dry. The 32.5 mm of rain accumulated over the course of this month accounted for much less than half of October’s climate average. This was the result of anticyclonic conditions that prevailed over the central Mediterranean. These acted as a barrier, which weakened storms as soon as they reached the Maltese Islands. The 7 days of rain and 3 days of thunder observed last month were less than the norm for this time of year. October is renowned locally for being the stormiest month of the year. This year was different, as no severe rainfall events were experienced.

The average wind speed of 15.3 km/h almost confirmed with the climate mean. Winds from the West Southwest were more dominant. Two near gales (Force 7 winds) swept the Maltese Islands in October 2020, on the 12th / 13th and 27th / 28th.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in October 2020

Għarb – 32.5 mm

Victoria – 26.3 mm

Xewkija – 26.4 mm

Nadur – 44.4 mm

Mellieħa – 33.0 mm

Buġibba – 36.3 mm

Mġarr – 23.1 mm

Għargħur – 51.5 mm

Attard – 61.7 mm

Rabat – 31.4 mm

Msida – 41.0 mm

Valletta – 20.0 mm

Luqa – 28.4 mm

Żabbar – 33.0 mm

Birżebbuġa – 34.0 mm