Reports

Air Temperature

 Relative Humidity

 Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

 Rainfall Events

August 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

HOTTER but WETTER in AUGUST 2022

The third and final month of the meteorological summer completed a whole season of hotter than average temperatures. The mean maximum temperature of 31.4°C conformed with the climate norm. The mean minimum temperature of 23.9°C exceeded the norm by a staggering 1.2°C. Overall, August 2022’s mean temperature of 27.6°C was half a degree warmer than the climate average for a typical August. This anomaly in minimum temperatures could be directly attributed to a very warm central Mediterranean Sea (with a sea surface temperature of 28°C to 29°C). A very warm sea inhibits nighttime cooling of air across land areas. Despite maximum temperatures being around the norm for the time of year, elevated levels of relative humidity made for some very uncomfortable days. Relative humidity averaged 76.6% overall, with the level failing to drop below 50% on most days. The heat index exceeded 40°C on a number of days. The heat index is what the air temperature actually feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature in the shade. A number of rain showers drenched zones of the Maltese Islands around the 10^th and 11^th. Much of the rain that fell in these showers evporated from the soil and vegetation in the following days, causing levels of relative humidity to spike. Last month also accounted for the hottest day and night recorded at our weather station over the course of this year’s meteorological summer. The mercury hit a sweltering 38.3°C on the 17^th. It dipped to only 28.0°C the following night.

August 2022 was a very interesting month with regards to precipitation. Despite the intense heat that dominated much of last month, it was a rather unstable month. Towering cumulus clouds featured on the vast majority of days. The air closer to the surface was hot and humid. Simultaneously, cold air was present in the upper levels of the atmosphere. On sunlit days, the hot and humid air is forced to rise. Upon reaching the colder air aloft, moisture within the air mass condenses to form dense clouds. These clouds start forming in the late morning and dissipate by the late afternoon, peaking in the mid-afternoon. These clouds generated some intense thunderstorms from 10^th to 12^th August. Various localities around the Maltese Islands experienced showers. A handful of localities were drenched by intense downpours. Localities to the south of Malta remained largely dry. Total precipitation tallied at a national average of 22.2 mm. A few localities received in excess of two inches (or 50 mm) of precipitation.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in August 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 9.7 mm (586.0 mm)

Victoria: 18.1 mm (615.3 mm)

Xewkija: 11.4 mm (562.6 mm)

Nadur: 7.4 mm (626.8 mm)

Marsalforn: 3.6 mm (629.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 44.2 mm (587.8 mm)

Buġibba: 31.8 mm (651.7 mm)

Mġarr: 52.3 mm (644.1 mm)

Naxxar: 56.4 mm (688.1 mm)

Mosta: 61.7 mm (605.5 mm)

Dingli: 2.0 mm (497.1 mm)

Msida: 33.3 mm (627.7 mm)

Valletta: 13.6 mm (384.6 mm)

Imqabba: 12.4 mm (592.8 mm)

Żabbar: 12.0 mm (607.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.8 mm (432.6 mm)

Sliema: 16.8 mm (594.9mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 22.8 mm (584.8 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

July 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

HOTTER THAN AVERAGE in JULY 2022

July 2022, the second month of meteorological summer, was marked by hotter than average temperatures. Whilst no extreme heat waves were recorded, the maximum temperature did exceed the climate norm of 31.2°C on eighteen days. Whilst daytime maximum temperatures were 0.7°C warmer than the norm, nighttime minimum temperatures exceeded the climate average by a staggering 1.6°C. This could be attributed to a warmer than average sea around the central Mediterranean. A very warm sea inhibits nighttime cooling of air on land. Nights did in fact feel very warm, offering meagre relief after a hot day. The air temperature at our Gozo weather station peaked at 36.8°C on the 5^th. A handful of localities on mainland Malta registered maximum temperatures in the region of 39°C.

The sea surface temperature around the Maltese Islands surged to 28°C / 29°C as the month progressed.

Whilst it was bone dry at our Gozo weather station, July 2022 proved to be more interesting in terms of precipitation for a number of localities in Malta. A national mean of 0.3 mm was measured by rain gauges distributed in a number of localities around the Maltese Islands. The wettest area was around Dingli. Other localities around central Malta also received some rain. Isolated showers developed over Malta on the 10^th and the 14^th. That week was characterized by instability. A pocket of cold air was present in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the Maltese Islands. The air at lower levels was substantially warmer and more humid. This state of affairs rendered the atmosphere unstable. As the sun heated the land, the warm and humid air at the surface was forced to rise. This caused the water vapour to condense, forming rain clouds. Cloudbuilding started early in the day, and the clouds reached a size large enough to produce an isolated shower. This episode of instability that spanned the entire second week of July also claimed the highest wind gust measured last month, a 45.1 km/h (Force 6) wind gust from the North Northwest on a breezy day on the 8^th.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in July 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 0.0 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 0.5 mm (543.8 mm)

Dingli: 3.8 mm (495.1 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 0.4 mm (580.4 mm)

Żabbar: 0.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.0 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.3 mm (562.0 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

 Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

June 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

DRY and SIGNIFICANTLY HOTTER THAN AVERAGE in JUNE 2022

June 2022, the first month of meteorological summer, was marked by significantly hotter than average and bone dry weather.

With the mean temperature a staggering 2.4°C warmer than the climatic mean, last June was the warmest in decades. There was one heat spell at the start of the month and a heat wave towards the end of the month (24^th till 31^st). By definition, a heat wave is defined as a spell of three of more consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding the mean maximum temperature for that particular time of year by 5°C or more. A heat spell is any episode of intense heat that doesn’t satisfy the criteria for a heat wave. The hottest day last month was the 26^th, when the mercury soared to 35.9°C at our weather station. It was hotter elsewhere around the Maltese Islands. With a maximum temperature of 39°C, the 28^th was the hottest day nationally. A period of seasonal weather, with temperatures at or slightly above the norm, was experienced halfway through June.

There was nothing to report in terms of rainfall. June 2022 was bone dry. It was also relatively calm regionally, with no thunderstorms observed in territorial waters.

As the first month of meteorological summer, it also lived up to its expectation of being a calm month. There was only one episode of windy weather. Its peak was on the 10^th, when a wind gust of 45.2 km/h (Force 6) was measured.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in June 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 0.0 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 0.0 mm (543.3 mm)

Dingli: 0.0 mm (491.3 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 0.0 mm (580.0 mm)

Żabbar: 0.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.0 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.0 mm (561.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

May 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

WETTER but MARGINALLY WARMER in MAY 2022

May 2022 was marked by the gradual rise in air temperatures which is synonymous with late spring. Overall, it was marginally warmer than average. The mean temperature of 20.1°C was 0.3°C warmer than the climate mean. The 17^th was the warmest day last month. A maximum temperature of 31.9°C was measured on that day. No temperature extremes were recorded over the course of the month.

May 2022 was wetter than normal. The 12.2 mm measured across the Maltese Islands was a fraction higher than what one would normally expect in May. The majority was produced by two rainfall events: on the 8^th and 29^th. Both rainfall events produced a brief episode of heavy rain. Thunder was heard on both days too. Some small hail was also reported on the 29^th. A few days with light rain along with abundant fine desert sand were also reported. The wetter than average weather was due to prevalent instability across the central Mediterranean.

May 2022 lived up to its expectation of being a relatively breezy month. In fact, half of all days last month featured wind of at least Force 5 at times.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in May 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 20.1 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 20.4 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 16.6 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 8.9 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 12.4 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 6.2 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 9.9 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 12.5 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 8.8 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 17.2 mm (543.3 mm)

Dingli: 10.0 mm (491.3 mm)

Msida: 10.2 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 7.7 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 15.2 mm (580.0 mm)

Żabbar: 12.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 9.1 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 9.8 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 12.2 mm (561.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

April 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

COOLER and DRIER in APRIL 2022 

April 2022 maintained the trend of cooler than average weather set at the start of winter. The transition to the warmer months is slower and continues to lag slightly behind. With a mean temperature of 15.6°C, April 2022 was half a degree cooler than the norm, with the difference from the mean being more pronounced in maximum temperatures. The temperature started exceeding the 20°C mark towards the last week of the month. The coldest temperature last month was measured in the very early hours of the 11^th, when the mercury dipped to 6.6°C. This was the only ‘extreme’ recorded in April 2022.

April 2022 became the fourth consecutive month to register below-average precipitation. The meagre 4.7 mm measured by our weather station was a mere 20% of the climate norm. At 2.0 mm, the national precipitation total stood at an even lower level. This fell over six days. Much of it was in the form of light rain that deposited fine desert sand. All zones of low pressure that traversed the central Mediterranean last month were of Sahara Desert origins. In fact, half of all days in April 2022 were characterized by airborne fine desert sand.

The wind blew from the Sirocco quarter for much of the month as well. This too is a tell-tale sign of the presence of north African low pressure systems. The wind gusted up to Force 6 or stronger on a staggering 12 days. The vast majority of these windy days were characterized by the Sirocco. The highest wind gust was registered at 62.8 km/h on the 14^th, during a gale that forced the cancellation of a number of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday plans.

The meteorological situation last month was as one would expect in a typical April. The only difference was the enhancement of weather conditions. A number of ridges of high pressure developed across the central Mediterranean from time to time. These were very short-lived as they were repeatedly forced to dissipate or migrate eastwards by the zones of low pressure that persistently emerged from the Gulf of Gabes.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in April 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 4.7 mm (556.2 mm)

Victoria: 4.4 mm (576.8 mm)

Xewkija: 0.5 mm (534.6 mm)

Nadur: 3.0 mm (610.5mm)

Marsalforn: 3.4 mm (613.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 1.0 mm (537.4 mm)

Buġibba: 1.6 mm (610.0 mm)

Mġarr: 1.3 mm (579.3 mm)

Naxxar: 3.6 mm (622.9 mm)

Mosta: 2.8 mm (526.1 mm)

Dingli: 1.4 mm (481.3 mm)

Msida: 0.8 mm (584.2 mm)

Valletta: 0.3 mm (363.3 mm)

Imqabba: 1.5 mm (564.8 mm)

Żabbar: 1.0 mm (583.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 1.5 mm (422.7 mm)

Sliema: 1.3 mm (568.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 2.0 mm (549.5 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

March 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER in MARCH 2022

March 2022 continued the colder than average trend set in previous months. In fact, March turned out to be as cold as February. The mean temperature of 12.4°C was a staggering 1.6°C colder than the norm for this time of year. The mean maximum of 15.5°C and mean minimum of 9.4°C were 1.8°C and 1.3°C colder than the climate mean respectively. March 2022 was the coldest March in decades. The mercury dipped to a chilly 3.9°C in the early hours of the 25^th, making that night one of the coldest March nights on record. Less than a week later, at around noon on the 31^st, the Maltese Islands experienced one of the warmest March days in recent years. The temperature spiked to 24.6°C at our weather station on the final day of the month. Values were even higher in areas further inland. Minimum temperatures dropped to below the 10°C mark on a total of eighteen nights. The only average or slightly warmer than average days came in the month’s final week, indicating the much anticipated start of spring’s gradual rise in temperatures.

Although rainfall over the course of March 2022 was lower than the average, there was still a marked improvement over the previous month. The 21.2 mm accumulated by the end of the month were around half the total rainfall expected in a typical March. The bulk fell in a rainy episode halfway through the month (12^th and 13^th). The rest were produced by sporadic rain showers. Much of these showers deposited fine desert sand brought over by a predominant Sirocco wind.

Half of last month featured winds blowing from the Sirocco quarter. In fact, most days during March 2022 featured a hazy sky. This was due to the abundant fine desert sand blown across the Mediterranean by the southerly winds. Last month’s highlight was a gale-force wind from the East Southeast on the 18^th and 19^th.

The meteorological situation across Europe was fairly uniform last month. The meteorological situation over eastern Europe was characterized by an unusually strong and extensive area of high pressure. This anticyclone had been stationary over the region for a long while. Such a meteorological setting helped maintain a persistent stream of cold air from Siberia all the way to the central Mediterranean, keeping temperatures locally below the climatic norm. Further to this, a fairly stable atmosphere across our area deviated most rain-bearing systems to the north, maintaining the drier weather. The colder air further aggravated the situation. Things took a turn to a more seasonal meteorological setting by the final week of the month. Systems of low pressure of north African origin started developing over Tunisia. These traversed the central Mediterranean bringing warmer temperatures, elevated levels of humidity, dustier air and southerly winds.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in March 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 21.2 mm (551.5 mm)

Victoria: 23.7 mm (572.5 mm)

Xewkija: 18.7 mm (534.1 mm)

Nadur: 23.9 mm (607.5mm)

Marsalforn: 15.8 mm (610.0 mm)

Mellieħa: 19.0 mm (536.4 mm)

Buġibba: 22.0 mm (608.4 mm)

Mġarr: 21.8 mm (578.0 mm)

Naxxar: 22.7 mm (619.3 mm)

Mosta: 20.0 mm (523.4 mm)

Dingli: 23.5 mm (479.9 mm)

Msida: 20.4 mm (583.4 mm)

Valletta: 14.8 mm (363.0 mm)

Imqabba: 30.2 mm (563.3 mm)

Żabbar: 17.1 mm (582.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 14.3 mm (421.2 mm)

Sliema: 15.7 mm (567.0 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 20.3 mm (547.5 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Atmospheric Pressure

Wind

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

February 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

Significsntly Drier in February 2022

Rain over the course of February 2022 was very scarce. In fact, it was among the driest ever. Total daily rainfall exceeded 1.0 mm on only one day. This was on the 1^st, when 3.3 mm were measured at our weather station. By the end of the month, 5.0 mm of rain had accumulated. This was from isolated light rain and/or dewfall on a number of days. February 2022 received less than 10% of the rain one would expect over the course of a typical February. No locality in the Maltese Islands accumulated more than 10 mm of rain last month. This serious lack of rainfall may be blamed on successive zones of high pressure that characterised the meterorological situation around the western Mediterranean. This prevented low pressure systems from reaching the central Mediterranean. The sheer stability that dominated much of last month was reflected in readings of atmospheric pressure and wind speed. Readings of atmospheric pressure were frequently above average for this time of year. No major gales were experienced last month. February is normally a very windy month locally.

Temperatures were overall cooler than average. This could be due to persistent zones of high pressure over central and eastern Europe. These patterns of atmospheric pressure direct cold air from northern Europe towards the Mediterranean. A number of nights were characterized by clear skies and a lack of wind. Clear skies at night allow heat to escape into the atmosphere, allowing air temperatures to dip. The coldest temperature last month was measured at 5.3°C, in the early hours of the 9^th. A total of twelve nights registered minimum temperatures below the climate norm. Overall, with a difference of – 0.3°C from the mean, air temperatures were only marginally colder.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in February 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 5.0 mm (530.3 mm)

Victoria: 5.8 mm (548.8 mm)

Xewkija: 5.6 mm (515.4 mm)

Nadur: 2.3 mm (583.6mm)

Marsalforn: 5.1 mm (594.2 mm)

Mellieħa: 4.9 mm (517.4 mm)

Buġibba: 5.2 mm (586.4 mm)

Mġarr: 3.6 mm (556.2 mm)

Naxxar: 5.8 mm (596.6 mm)

Mosta: 3.9 mm (503.4 mm)

Dingli: 5.9 mm (456.4 mm)

Msida: 5.6 mm (563.0 mm)

Valletta: 6.4 mm (348.2 mm)

Imqabba: 3.3 mm (533.1 mm)

Żabbar: 7.8 mm (565.4 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 3.1 mm (406.9 mm)

Sliema: 3.5 mm (551.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 4.9 mm (527.2 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

 Atmospheric Pressure

 Wind

 Precipitation

Rainfall Events

January 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

Colder than Average in January 2022

The new year started off on a relatively warm note, with the month’s air temperature peaking at 18.2°C on the fifth day. Temperatures were consistently above average throughout the first week of January. From then on, a drop in temperatures was registered. The synoptic situation for much of January 2022 was marked by persistent high pressure across western Europe and successive zones of low pressure over the Balkans. This meteorological caused a series of cold snaps to traverse the central and eastern Mediterranean, with the more intense ones coming towards the end of the month. Last month’s mean minimum temperature was calculated at 8.9°C. The coldest night was on the 25^th, when the minimum temperature dipped to a frosty 2.9°C. This was the coldest night in seven years. The 25^th also marked the first time in five years that the maximum temperature failed to reach the 10°C level.

Overall, January 2022 was a drier than average month. Rainfall totals varied widely, however, with a number of localities in fact registering rainfall totals which exceeded the climate norm. Gozo and the western half of Malta were the drier regions. Our weather station registered a poor total of 35.1 mm over the course of the month. Localities across northern and central Malta were luckier in terms of rainfall, with a few localities almost reaching the 100 mm mark. It is worth noting how on the days that Gozo and western Malta remained relatively dry, but localities elsewhere received abundant rainfall, the wind was blowing from a predominantly North Northwest direction. This creates a form of rain shadow whose impact is felt far more profoundly across these areas. A kind of rain shadow forms over the Maltese Islands when the wind across the central Mediterranean blows from a northerly direction. Cold northerly air moving towards the Maltese Islands encounters Sicily (including Mount Etna which stands at 3,326 meters above sea-level) on its way. The advancing air is forced to rise and condense, producing rain-bearing clouds over Sicily. Precipitation occurs and the moisture carried by the cold northerly air is lost. As the cold northerly air advances further south, the stretch of sea between Sicily and the Maltese Islands is not wide enough for the air to recharge with moisture. As a result, the air is too dry to form any rain-bearing clouds locally. As a result, very little rain occurs over the Maltese Islands. That is why a North wind rarely brings any rain to our shores. As explained earlier, the rain shadow effect produced when the wind blows from the North Northwest is felt more over Gozo and western Malta.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in January 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 35.1 mm (525.3 mm)

Marsalforn: 43.2 mm (589.1 mm)

Victoria: 45.3 mm (548.8 mm)

Xewkija: 41.4 (509.8 mm)

Nadur: 48.9 mm (581.3 mm)

Mellieħa: 36.1 mm (512.5 mm)

Buġibba: 73.3 mm (581.2 mm)

Naxxar: 98.3 mm (590.8 mm)

Dingli: 56.6 mm (450.5 mm)

Mġarr: 74.4 mm (552.6 mm)

Mosta: 99.6 mm (499.5 mm)

Msida: 78.8 mm (557.4 mm)

Sliema: 83.4 mm (547.8 mm)

Valletta: 35.6 mm (341.8 mm)

Imqabba: 82.9 mm (529.8 mm)

Żabbar: 46.0 mm (557.6 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 47.7 mm (403.8 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 60.4 mm (522.3 mm)