Updates

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

An intense low pressure over the Gulf of Genoa will deepen in the coming days. Meanwhile, a ridge of high pressure over northern Africa will strengthen. The central Mediterranean will become sandwiched between the two. A current of warm, humid air from the south will develop over our region. This will push temperatures to above average. We’re expecting maximum temperatures to hover to above 17°C. Minimum temperatures will not dip below 12°C. The predominantly southwesterly wind will be rather strong at times, particularly around midweek. This will blow fine dust from the Sahara Desert across our region, creating hazy skies. No rain is anticipated, however. The strong wind will whip up a rough sea along the south coast. Meanwhile, storm systems over the western Mediterranean will send swell waves our way. These will hit our islands from the northwest, causing choppy conditions along areas of the north coast as well. All in all, conditions at sea could be unpredictable at times in the coming days. This unseasonal warm weather could switch almost overnight heading into Friday 20th January. The previously mentioned low pressure over the Gulf of Genoa may expand to cover the central Mediterranean by then, heralding the potential start of a brief episode of wintry conditions as early as the coming weekend. More details about this will be provided at a later stage.

MALTI / MALTESE

Pressjoni baxxa intensa fuq il-Golf ta’ Ġenoa se tissaħħaħ fil-jiem li ġejjin. Sadattant, firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja lejn l-Afrika ta’ Fuq ukoll se tissaħħaħ. Iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran se jisfa maqbud fin-nofs bejn dawn iż-żewġ sistemi. Kurrent ta’ arja sħuna u umda minn żoni meridjonali se jiżviluppa fuq ir-reġjun tagħna. Dan se jwassal għal temperaturi ogħla mill-medja. Nistennew temperaturi massimi ta’ aktar minn 17°C. It-temperaturi minimi mhux se jaqgħu taħt 12°C. Ir-riħ li fil-biċċa l-kbira tal-ħin se jkun mill-Lbiċ se jkun qawwi kultant, partikularment lejn nofs il-ġimgħa. Dan se jonfoħ trab fin minn fuq id-Deżert tas-Saħara lejn ir-reġjun tagħna, u b’hekk iwassal għal sema mdaħħan. L-ebda xita mhu mistennija, pero’. Dan ir-riħ qawwi se jikkawża baħar imqalleb matul il-kosta tan-nofsinhar. Safrattant, sistemi ta’ maltemp fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran se jimbuttaw imbatt lejna. Dan se jilħaqna mill-majjistral u b’hekk jikkawża baħar daqsxejn imqalleb tul il-kosta tat-tramuntana wkoll. Kollox ma’ kollox, is-sitwazzjoni fuq il-baħar se tkun waħda diffiċli biex tkun imbassra kultant. Dan it-temp barra minn żmienu jista jinqaleb ta’ taħt fuq kważi mal-lejl nhar il-Ġimgħa 20 ta’ Jannar. Il-pressjoni baxxa fuq il-Golf ta’ Ġenoa msemmiha aktar kmieni kapaċi tespandi u tilħaq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran, biex b’hekk tagħti bidu għal dak li jista jkun episodju qasir ta’ temp xitwi minn tmiem il-ġimgħa li ġejja. Aktar dettalji dwar dan jingħataw aktar tard.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

An intense low pressure system migrating across the Adriatic Sea will draw air in from higher pressure over the Iberian Peninsula and France. This will generate a strong to very strong wind from the West Northwest to Northwest across the central Mediterranean. This warning is valid from 00:00 on Tuesday 10^th January till 06:00 on Wednesday 11^th January, and could be extended if necessary. This is how the situation will likely develop during this time period:

Tuesday 10^th January

00:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest to Northwest Force 5 to 6, increasing to become Force 6 to 7

06:00 to 12:00 – Northwest to West Northwest Force 6 to 7, increasing to become Force 8

12:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest to Northwest Force 8

18:00 to 23:59 – Northwest Force 8, decreasing to become Force 6 to 7

Wednesday 11^th January

00:00 to 06:00 – Northwest Force 6 to 7, decreasing to become Force 5 to 6

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the late morning and afternoon of Tuesday 10^th January, when they will reach Force 9 at times across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 5.5 metres from the Northwest in peak gusts. The stretch of coast highlighted in red on the below map will be directly exposed to this very rough sea.

The wind will remain breezy and from a predominantly northwesterly direction on the following days.

MALTI / MALTESE

Sistema’ ta’ pressjoni baxxa intensa li se tkun għaddejjha minn fuq il-Baħar Adrijatiku se toħloq kuntrast qawwi ma’ żona bi pressjoni għolja fuq il-Penisola Iberika u Franza. Dan se joħloq riħ qawwi għal qawwi ħafna mill-Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din it-twissija se tkun valida minn 00:00 tat-Tlieta 10 ta’ Jannar sas 06:00 ta’ l-Erbgħa 11 ta’ Jannar, u tista tiġi estiża kif ikun meħtieġ. Dan huwa kif mistennija tiżvolġi s-sitwazzjoni fil-ħin imsemmi:

It-Tlieta 10 ta’ Jannar

00:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral Forza 5 għal 6, li jitqawwa biex isir Forza 6 għal 7

06:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral għal Punent Majjistru Forza 6 għal 7, li jitqawwa biex isir Forza 8

12:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral Forza 8

18:00 sa 23:59 – Majjistral Forza 8, li jonqos biex isir Forza 6 għal 7

Wednesday 11^th January

00:00 to 06:00 – Majjistral Forza 6 għal 7, li jonqos biex isir Forza 5 għal 6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwijin mistennija jaħkmu lill-Gżejjer Maltin tard filgħodu u waranofsinhar tat-Tlieta 10 ta’ Jannar, meta mistennija jilħqu Forza 9 kultant fl-aktar inħawi esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Il-baħar se jkun qawwi ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 5.5 metri mill-Majjistral fl-aktar buffuri qawwijin. Il-kosta mmarkata bl-aħmar fil-mappa ta’ hawn taħt se tkun l-aktar milquta minn dan il-baħar qawwi ħafna.

Ir-riħ jibqa daqsxejn qawwi u l-biċċa l-kbira mill-Majjistral fil-jiem ta’ wara.

00:00 to 03:00 – mist or fog patches and heavy dewfall; 15°C to 14°C; Northwest Force 3 to 4
03:00 to 06:00 – mist or fog patches and heavy dewfall; 14°C to 12°C; Northwest Force 2 to 3
06:00 to 09:00 – clear; 12°C to 16°C; Calm
09:00 to 12:00 – clear; 16°C to 19°C / 20°C; Calm
12:00 to 15:00 – clear; 19°C / 20°C; Variable Force 2 to 3
15:00 to 18:00 – clear; 19°C / 20°C to 16°C; Variable Force 2 to 3
18:00 to 21:00 – clear; 16°C to 13°C / 14°C; Calm
21:00 to 00:00 – mist or fog patches and heavy dewfall; 13°C / 14°C; Calm

On Christmas Eve, in most villages and towns, one will come across The Children’s procession, whereby children singing Christmas Carols and carrying Christmas lanterns carry the statue of baby Jesus around the village. This tradition is believed to have been started in 1921 by the St.George Preca. Midnight Mass then follows the Children’s Procession. The Mass usually commences with Christmas Carol singing, the most popular Maltese Christmas Carol being, Ninni la Tibkix Izjed. The highlight of the Mass is the oldest of the Maltese Christmas traditions, the Child’s sermon, A child aged is chosen to recite the Nativity story. In the Maltese Islands, Christmas Day is a time to celebrate with family. The family gets together for a long lunch that extends into the evening. Don’t forget, however, to give a call to a lonely family member, friend or neighbour.

General Situation: The atmosphere above the central Mediterranean will become increasingly stable as the weekend progresses. This will mean mainly fine weather for the weekend of Christmas.

Weather Conditions: Christmas Eve will be characterized by lots of high clouds. The high clouds will clear up overnight. Christmas Day will be soaked in long hours of uninterrupted of bright sunshine. There will also be mist or fog patches in the early and late hours.

Temperature: A local circulation of warm air will be maintained throughout the weekend. Temperatures will be above average on both days, reaching a maximum of 19°C on Christmas Eve and 20°C on Christmas Day. Minimum temperatures will be in the region of 13°C to 15°C.

Wind: A brisk northwesterly wind will blow on Christmas Eve. This will reach Force 6 at times. It will decrease in strength overnight, becoming mainly light on Christmas Day. It will become largely Calm by the evening on Christmas Day.

00:00 to 03:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 15°C to 14°C; West Northwest Force 4 to 5
03:00 to 06:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 13°C / 14°C; West Force 4 to 5
06:00 to 09:00 – cloudy; 13°C to 15°C ; Southwest Force 4 to 5
09:00 to 12:00 – cloudy with the possibility of light rain; 15°C to 20°C; Southwest Force 5 to 6
12:00 to 15:00 – cloudy with the possibility of light rain; 20°C / 21°C; West Southwest Force 5 to 6
15:00 to 18:00 – cloudy; 21°C to 20°C; West Force 5 to 6
18:00 to 21:00 – cloudy; 20°C to 19°C; West Force 5 to 6
21:00 to 00:00 – cloudy; 19°C to 18°C; West Force 4 to 5

When Malta acquired independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, the late Elizabeth II became the head of state and Queen of Malta. On 13 December 1974, the constitution of Malta was substantially revised, transforming the State of Malta into a republic within the Commonwealth of States. The British monarch was no longer Reġina ta’ Malta (Queen of Malta) and the new head of state was the President. The first President was Sir Anthony Mamo. This occasion is marked every year as Republic Day (Maltese: Jum ir-Repubblika). The monument of Republic Day is in Marsa.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A persistent zone of low pressure over central and northern Italy will cause a current of warm air to flow from the Sahara Desert towards the central Mediterranean region. This will strengthen in the coming days and will be maintained till the end of the week. Temperatures in the Maltese Islands will be very warm. We’re looking at maximum temperatures in the region of 20°C to 25°C. Minimum temperatures will range from 16°C to 19°C. These values will be a staggering 3°C to 8°C warmer than the norm for this time of year. The warmest day of the week is likely to be Friday 16th December. If the temperature on that day exceeds 24.9°C it will become the warmest December on record, breaking the record set in December 1987. This spell of very warm temperatures will be accompanied by southerly winds. Humidity levels will be very high. The sky will be variably to mostly cloudy and rather hazy at times. Whilst significant rainfall is highly unlikely, spotty rain may occur at times. Any rain will deposit fine desert sand. The following week, meaning the week leading up to Christmas Day, will see temperatures returning to more seasonal levels.

MALTI / MALTESE

Żona ta’ pressjoni baxxa li qed tippersisti fuq iċ-ċentru u t-tramuntana ta’ l-Italja se twassal biex jiżviluppa kurrent ta’ arja sħuna minn fuq id-deżert lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Dan se jkun qed jissaħħaħ fil-jiem li ġejjin u għandu jibqa jippersisti sa tmiem il-ġimgħa. It-temperaturi fil-Gżejjer Maltin se jkun għoljin. Qed nistennew temperaturi massimi fir-livell ta’ 20°C sa 25°C. Dawk minimi se jvarjaw minn 16°C sa 19°C. Dawn il-valuri jaqbżu l-medja staġġjonali b’madwar 3°C sa 8°C. L-aktar jum sħun ta’ din il-ġimgħa mistenni li jkun il-Ġimgħa 16 ta’ Diċembru. Jekk it-temperatura massima dakinhar taqbeż 24.9°C jinkiser ir-rekord ta’ l-aktar jum sħun f’Diċembru li ntlaħaq f’1987. Dan l-episodju ta’ temperaturi għoljin ħafna se jkun abbinat ma’ riħ isfel. L-umdita’ se tkun għolja ħafna. Is-sema se jkun varjabbilment għal biċċa l-kbira msaħħab u mdaħħan kultant. Għalkemm xita sinifikanti mhux mistennija matul din il-ġimgħa, jidher li se jkun hemm possibilita’ ta’ xi ftit taqtir ta’ xita tal-ħamrija minn ħin għal ieħor. Il-ġimgħa ta’ wara, iġifieri l-ġimgħa li twassalna sal-Milied, mistennija tara t-temperaturi jirritornaw għal-livelli aktar staġġjonali.

00:00 to 03:00 – mainly clear; 14°C to 13°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
03:00 to 06:00 – mainly clear; 12°C / 13°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
06:00 to 09:00 – mainly clear; 12°C to 16°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
09:00 to 12:00 – mainly clear; 16°C to 20°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
12:00 to 15:00 – mainly clear; 19°C / 20°C; West Force 3 to 4
15:00 to 18:00 – increasing high cloud; 19°C to 17°C; West Southwest Force 3 to 4
18:00 to 21:00 – lots of high cloud; 17°C to 16°C; South Southwest Force 3 to 4
21:00 to 00:00 – lots of high cloud; 16°C to 15°C; South Southwest Force 4 to 5

The feats of the Immaculate Conception is associated with various ancient traditions around the Maltese Islands. It is a public holiday in the archipelago nation. It is celebrated at the Franciscan Conventual church in Victoria, at the Immaculate Conception sanctuary in Qala and in the town of Cospicua. In Gozo, a traditional motorcycle pilgrimage accompanied by the statue of the Virgin Mary takes place. It leaves the Ta’ Pinu sanctuary in Għarb and ends at the Immaculate Conception sanctuary in Qala.

General Situation: A low pressure system of north African origin will traverse the central Mediterranean rapidly on Saturday 3/12, before migrating eastwards. This will be replaced by a weak ridge of high pressure on Sunday 4/12.

Weather Conditions: The sky will be largely overcast on Saturday 3/12. This will be accompanied by the hazy sky normally synonymous with low pressure systems of north African origin. This will be cleared swiftly by incoming high pressure on Sunday 4/12, promising a day with plentiful bright sunshine.

Temperature: Air will flow from over the Sahara Desert this weekend. This will push temperatures to above average for this time of year. We’re expecting maximum temperature of 20°C + and minimum temperatures in the region of 15°C.

Wind: The eastward movement of a zone of low pressure across our region will generate a rather strong Scirocco over the Maltese Islands. The south-easterly wind will reach Force 6 (with stronger wind gusts in exposed areas) for some time on Saturday 3/12. It will die down overnight into Sunday 4/12 to become Force 2 to 3 whilst veering westerly.

General Situation: A zone of low pressure will develop over the central Mediterranean. This will bring slight instability to the Maltese Islands.

Weather Conditions: The sky will be variably cloudy. There will be isolated showers possibly heavy and thundery at times. These are more likely in the evening on Saturday 12/11 and in the morning on Sunday 13/11. Rain will not be widespread. The risk of severe weather is close to zero.

Temperature: They will be around average for this time of year. Daytime highs will hover at 20°C/21°C. Night time lows will dip to 14°C/15°C.

Wind: It will be mainly light and from a predominantly South-westerly direction.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

An intense low pressure system over central Italy will generate a very strong wind from the South Southwest to West Northwest around the central and western Mediterranean. This will reach gale-force at times. This warning is valid from 21:00 on Friday 4^th November till noon on Sunday 6^th November, and will be updated if necessary.

Friday 4^th November

21:00 to 00:00 – South Southwest Force 7

Saturday 5^th November

00:00 to 06:00 – South Southwest to Northwest Force 7

06:00 to 12:00 – Northwest to West Northwest Force 7

12:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 7

18:00 to 00:00 – West Northwest Force 7

Sunday 6^th November

00:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest to Northwest Force 8

06:00 to 12:00 – Northwest to North Northwest Force 7

The North Northwest to Northwest wind will decrease rapidly to become Force 2 to 3 by late evening on Sunday 6^th  November.

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the early hours of Sunday 6^th November, when they could reach Force 8 at times across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. Strong gusts will also occur prior to and during showers. The sea will be rough to very rough, with significant wave heights of up to 4.5 metres in peak gusts. The map indicates the stretch of coast exposed to this strong wind.

MALTI/MALTESE

Sistema ta’ pressjoni  baxxa intensa fuq iċ-ċentru ta’ l-Italja se tikkawża riħ qawwi ħafna minn Nofsinhar il-Lbiċ għal Punent Majjistru madwar iċ-ċentru u l-punent tal-Mediterran. Dan se jilħaq il-qawwa ta’ riefnu kultant. It-twissija tkun fis-seħħ minn 21:00 tal-Ġimgħa 4 ta’ Novembru sa nofsinhar tal-Ħadd 6 ta’ Novembru, u tkun aġġornata kif meħtieġ.

Il-Ġimgħa 4 ta’ Novembru

21:00 sa 00:00 – Nofsinhar il-Lbiċ Forza 7

Is-Sibt 5 ta’ Novembru

00:00 sa 06:00 – Nofsinhar il-Lbiċ għal Majjistral Forza 7

06:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral għal Punent Majjistru Forza 7

12:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7

18:00 sa 00:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7

Il-Ħadd 6 ta’ Novembru

00:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral Forza 8

06:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral għal Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 7

Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral it-Tramuntana għal Majjistral se jonqos drastikament u jsir Forza 2 għal 3 sa tard filgħaxija tal-Ħadd 6 ta’ Novembru.

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwijin se jolqtu l-Gżejjer Maltin fis-siegħat bikrija tal-Ħadd ta’ Novembru, x’ħin jistgħu jilħqu Forza 8 kultant fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Buffuri qawwijin se jolqtuna wkoll qabel u waqt ħalbiet tax-xita. Il-baħar se jkun qawwi għal qawwi ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 4.5 metri fl-agħar buffuri. Il-mappa tindika l-kosta l-aktar esposti għal dan il-baħar imqalleb.