Reports

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

February 2024 Compared to the Climate Means

Warmer and Drier in FEBRUARY 2024 

Overall, February was a continuation of the warmer and drier than average trend set by all previous autumn and winter months. The third and final month of meteorological winter was marked by frequently changing weather conditions due to the passage of several areas of low pressure across the central Mediterranean.

The mean temperature of 14.0°C was 1.3°C warmer than the norm. This comprised a mean maximum temperature of 16.8°C and mean minimum temperature of 11.1°C. These values were 1.2°C and 1.4°C warmer than average respectively.

Total rainfall at our weather station in Għarb amounted to 50.2 mm, or just over 80% of the climate norm. The national mean stood at 49.5 mm. This brought the total amount of rainfall since last September 1^st to 235.4 mm. This is just 53% of what the Maltese Islands are typically accustomed to. The month’s meteorological highlight, a hailstorm, struck central localities of Malta on the 11^th. This hailstorm coincided with the Sunday celebrations of Carnival. The hail was fairly large and abundant. The town of Mosta was particularly hard hit. The second half of the month brought with it the first widespread rainfall event in more than a month. The 25^th produced 23.3 mm of rain. It was Għarb’s and numerous other localities’ highest 24-hour total for February. The 21^st followed closely behind. There were 9 days of rain. 3 of these were accompanied by thunder. Hail was observed on two of them.

February 2024 was a relatively breezy, but at the same time, not too windy month. The wind reached Force 6 or stronger on 10 days. It reached Force 8 on only one of these days. This was the 25^th.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in February 2024 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 50.2 mm (235.4 mm)

Victoria: 57.3 mm (256.9 mm)

Xewkija: 35.9 mm (159.7 mm)

Nadur: 40.2 mm (246.2 mm)

Marsalforn: 46.0 mm (185.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 51.8 mm (194.4 mm)

Buġibba: 72.5 mm (248.1 mm)

Mġarr: 53.3 mm (223.0 mm)

Naxxar: 53.1 mm (251.3 mm)

Mosta: 51.5 mm (245.4 mm)

Dingli: 57.5 mm (237.8 mm)

Msida: 54.1 mm (249.5 mm)

Valletta: 48.1 mm (192.5 mm)

Imqabba: 46.6 mm (239.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 35.2 mm (207.4 mm)

Sliema: 49.5 mm (224.1 mm)

Fgura: 39.1 mm (175.1 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 49.5 mm (214.2 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

January 2024 Compared to the Climate Means

Warmer and Drier in JANUARY 2024

Numerous showers and a thunderstorm during the first half of January made for a wet start to 2024. The year may have started with a splash, but January’s total precipitation – which amounted to 55.0 mm – did not measure up to the climate norm. The national mean was at an even lower 44.2 mm. There were 9 days of rain. Thunder and hail were recorded on just one day. The 12th, the day with the heaviest rain, accounted for 25.3 mm of last month’s tally. The 174.6 mm of rainfall measured since September 1st amount to just 48% of the climate norm.

Apart from being drier than the climate norm, the month was also a full degree warmer than expected. Averaging at 13.8°C, the air temperature for the month surpassed the climate norm by 13.8°C. The warmest air temperature was registered on the 18th, when thermometers hit 20.6°C. The month’s coldest temperature was measured in the early hours of the 23rd, with a 5.2°C minimum.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in January 2024 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 55.0 mm (185.2 mm)

Victoria: 73.6 mm (199.6 mm)

Xewkija: 40.0 mm (123.8 mm)

Nadur: 65.3 mm (206.0 mm)

Marsalforn: 47.6 mm (139.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 41.0 mm (142.6 mm)

Buġibba: 42.0 mm (175.6 mm)

Mġarr: 32.2 mm (169.7 mm)

Naxxar: 46.1 mm (198.2 mm)

Mosta: 43.9 mm (193.9 mm)

Dingli: 24.5 mm (180.1 mm)

Msida: 53.8 mm (195.4 mm)

Valletta: 40.3 mm (144.4 mm)

Imqabba: 33.9 mm (192.9 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 36.6 mm (172.2 mm)

Sliema: 40.2 mm (174.6 mm)

Fgura: 35.2 mm (175.1 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 44.2 mm (174.6 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

December 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

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 2^nd. The coldest temperature last month was registered in the predawn hours of the 29^th, 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 16^th through to the 18^th accounted for the month’s only day to feature thunder and hail. With a total of 17.6 mm over 24 hours, the 18^th 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 22^nd 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)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

November 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Very Warm in November 2023

November 2023 brought very warm temperatures to the Maltese Islands. Overall, the mean temperature of 19.6°C was a staggering 1.6°C above the climate norm. This comprised a 1.9°C margin with mean minimum temperatures and an anomaly of 1.4°C with mean maximum temperatures. The first day of November was the hottest day of the month ever recorded. The mercury at our station in Għarb peaked at 26.9°C. The corresponding value at the Malta International Airport was far higher, at 29.1°C. Temperatures exceeded the climate norm on most days through the first half of the month. This was accompanied by the continuation of a shortage of rain that had gripped the Maltese Islands throughout October.

The situation took a more seasonal turn as November started winding down. Temperatures cooled down to below 20°C for the first time. The month’s coolest temperature was measured in the early hours of the 24^th, at 11.7°C. Precipitation also returned to our shores at this time. The 22^nd  brought with it the first widespread rainfall since springtime. With 31.3 mm on the day, it was also the month’s highest 24-hour rainfall total. The rainy spell towards the end of November quenched some of the countryside’s thirst. The 86.0 mm of rainfall measured last month fell just short of the climate mean. Almost three-quarters of that amount fell during two rainfall events. There were 9 days of rain. 4 of these were marked by thunder. Hail was registered on 1 of these.

There was one gale event. This occurred on the 25^th with the passage of a violent cold front. The highest wind speed on the day measured 66.0 km/h.

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

Għarb: 86.0 mm (93.0 mm)

Victoria: 84.4 mm (89.2 mm)

Xewkija: 50.0 mm (58.6 mm)

Nadur: 92.0 mm (101.4 mm)

Marsalforn: 58.2 mm (66.0 mm)

Mellieħa: 52.2 mm (74.2 mm)

Buġibba: 61.3 mm (86.2 mm)

Mġarr: 70.2 mm (91.6 mm)

Naxxar: 70.2 mm (95.0 mm)

Mosta: 56.9 mm (82.8 mm)

Dingli: 80.5 mm (93.0 mm)

Msida: 53.6 mm (97.9 mm)

Valletta: 46.5 mm (76.9 mm)

Imqabba: 59.0 mm (84.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 62.8 mm (89.0 mm)

Sliema: 47.0 mm (82.3 mm)

Fgura: 49.4 mm (83.7 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 63.5 mm (85.0 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

October 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

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 10^th. A spell of very warm temperatures was also recorded from the 18^th till the 21^st. Temperature values at the MetOffice in Malta International Airport were warm enough to be classified as a heatwave. The night from the 19^th through to the 20^th 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 1^st 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 20^th and 21^st 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)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

September 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Drier in September 2023 

September 2023, the first month of meteorological autumn, was significantly drier than the norm. Temperatures were marginally below average for the time of year.

The mean temperature of 24.9°C measured by  our weather station in Għarb, was 0.2°C cooler than the climate norm. This comprised a mean maximum temperature of 28.4°C and a mean minimum temperature of 21.3°C which were 0.1°C and 0.3°C below the norm respectively. The month’s hottest day was the 19^th. The mercury soared to 31.4°C on the day. The day was part of a week of above-average temperatures. This heat spell didn’t qualify to become a heat wave. The coolest temperature last month was measured at 18.1°C in the early hours of the 28^th.

There were two distinct episodes of instability during September 2023. The first was the one associated with Storm ‘Daniel’ from the 5^th through to the 9^th whilst the next was on the 25^th and 26^th. Both largely affected Malta, leaving Gozo almost completely dry. The national mean for the month of September stood at 21.4 mm, significantly lower than the climate norm of 55.9 mm. Mist or fog patches along with dew were observed on a number of mornings.

There were two main windy episodes. Both corresponded with the only two unstable zones that yielded precipitation. The highest wind gust was measured at 43.5km/h (Force 6) from a Northwesterly direction on the 23^rd.

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

Għarb: 6.7 mm (6.7 mm)

Victoria: 4.8 mm (4.8 mm)

Xewkija: 8.6 mm (8.6 mm)

Nadur: 9.4 mm (9.4 mm)

Marsalforn: 7.8 mm (7.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 22.0 mm (22.0 mm)

Buġibba: 24.9 mm (24.9 mm)

Mġarr: 21.4 mm (21.4 mm)

Naxxar: 24.8 mm (24.8 mm)

Mosta: 25.6 mm (25.6 mm)

Dingli: 12.5 mm (12.5 mm)

Msida: 44.3 mm (44.3 mm)

Valletta: 30.4 mm (30.4 mm)

Imqabba: 25.5 mm (25.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 25.2 mm (25.2 mm)

Sliema: 35.3 mm (35.3 mm)

Fgura: 34.3 mm (34.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 21.4 mm (21.4 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

August 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Relief in August 2023

After a record-breaking 10-day heat wave in July, August 2023 proved a breath of fresh air for the Maltese Islands. With a mean temperature of 26.4°C at our weather station in Għarb, last month was 1.2°C cooler than the climate norm. The mean maximum temperature of 30.0°C was a staggering 1.8°C below the norm. The mean minimum temperature of 22.8°C, on the other hand, was 0.5°C below the average. The maximum temperature last month peaked at 32.9°C on the 23^rd. Elsewhere in the Maltese Islands, the hottest days over the course of last August registered a maximum temperature of ‘only’ 35°C, a far cry from what these values normally stand at in a normal August. Maximum temperatures failed to exceed the 30°C mark on half of all days last month. There were also two nights where the minimum temperature dropped to below 20°C. Not all was perfect, however. Values of relative humidity were higher than the norm, particularly after the thunderstorm on the 21^st. This made the air feel rather clammy and uncomfortable at times.

August rain is not unheard of across the Maltese Islands, particularly as the month nears its end. August 2023 was characterised by two separate rainfall events. There were two separate isolated thunderstorms on the 21^st. One struck Gozo in the predawn hours. Another formed over central Malta in the daylight hours. 9.1 mm of rain were measured by our rain gauge in Għarb on the day. Whilst this was to be the only day with rain across Gozo, another stronger thunderstorm struck Malta on the month’s final day. August went out with a bang for some localities, particularly Mosta, where over 40 mm of rain were measured.

There were two outbreaks of strong wind, one towards the beginning and another towards the end. The highest wind gust was recorded on the 5^th, and measured at 49.9 km/h (almost Force 7) from a Northwesterly direction.

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

Għarb: 9.1 mm (585.7 mm)

Victoria: 6.1 mm (514.3 mm)

Xewkija: 4.6 mm (509.8 mm)

Nadur: 2.3 mm (508.1 mm)

Marsalforn: 1.5 mm (534.9 mm)

Mellieħa: 17.8 mm (490.9 mm)

Buġibba: 18.3 mm (570.0 mm)

Mġarr: 37.5 mm (546.8 mm)

Naxxar: 37.4 mm (687.1 mm)

Mosta: 45.4 mm (662.4 mm)

Dingli: 7.6 mm (544.8 mm)

Msida: 14.3 mm (719.1 mm)

Valletta: 7.3 mm (535.8 mm)

Imqabba: 8.6 mm (596.4 mm)

Żabbar: 8.7 mm (591.9 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 7.6 mm (493.9 mm)

Sliema: 11.2 (687.5 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 14.4 mm (575.3 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

July 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Sweltering in July 2023

The first few days of July 2023 continued where June left off. It didn’t take long for this state of affairs to change, however.

The mean temperature of 28.2°C, registered at our weather station in Għarb, exceeded the norm by 1.2°C. The mean maximum temperature of 32.9°C surpassed the norm by 1.4°C. The mean minimum temperature of 23.4°C, on the other hand, stood a full 1°C above the norm. Being the smaller island and under a stronger moderating effect of the sea, Gozo was spared the worst of the heat. Temperature values measured in Malta painted a far more worrying picture. Mean temperatures there were overall a staggering 3.5°C over the climate average. This made it officially the hottest July on record.

Using the national criteria for a heatwave, we conclude that the Maltese Islands experienced one heatwave last month. Lasting from 16^th July through to 25^th July (both days included), it proved to be record-breaking too. Whilst the temperature peaked at 39.8°C across Gozo, the maximum temperature across central Malta spiked to 42.7°C on the 24^th. This was the joint hottest temperature measured during July along with the record set back on 9^th July 1988. A deeper look into readings from central Malta show how the air temperature exceeded 40°C on a record-breaking six consecutive days. These are 41.0°C on the 20^th, 40.2°C on the 21^st, 41.1°C on the 22^nd, 42.3°C on the 23^rd, 42.7°C on the 24^th and 40.0°C on the 25^th. July’s long-lasting heat wave also broke the record for the warmest night. The minimum temperature on the night between the 24^th and 25^th remained at a hot 30.6°C at the airport. The value in Għarb on the night was of 28.5°C.

July 2023 also lived up to its expectation of being a completely dry month. No rain made it to the Maltese Islands throughout. Some mist or fog patches were observed prior to and during the heat wave.

The wind only reached Force 6 or stronger on two days, one at the beginning and the other towards the end. The highest wind gusts, at 54.7km/h (Force 7), was recorded on the 26^th.

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

Għarb: 0.0 mm (576.6 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (508.2 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (505.2 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (505.8 mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (533.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (473.1 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (551.7 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (509.3 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (649.7 mm)

Mosta: 0.0 mm (617.0 mm)

Dingli: 0.0 mm (537.2 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (704.8 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (528.5 mm)

Imqabba: 0.0 mm (587.8 mm)

Żabbar: 0.0 mm (583.2 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.0 mm (486.3 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 (676.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.0 mm (560.8 mm)