Updates

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A cold front associated with an intense low pressure system over northern Italy will traverse the central Mediterranean. In the meantime, a zone of high pressure will be developing across the western Mediterranean. This will generate a strong to very strong Northwest to North Northwest wind across the central Mediterranean. This warning is valid from 06:00 till 23:59 on Tuesday 23^rd March. The warning will be updated when and if necessary. The information below describes how the situation will develop over this time period:

Tuesday 23/3

06:00 to 09:00 – Northwest Force 5 to 6

09:00 to 12:00 – Northwest Force 6 to 7

12:00 to 15:00 – Northwest to North Northwest Force 7 to 8

15:00 to 18:00 – North Northwest Force 7 to 8

18:00 to 21:00 – North Northwest Force 6 to 7

21:00 to 23:59 – North Northwest Force 5 to 6

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the afternoon on Tuesday 23^rd March, when they will reach Force 8 at times across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 4.5 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be a low Northwest. The map below shows the coast most exposed to this strong wind and rough sea.

The wind will be mainly moderate from the North Northwest on Wednesday 24^th March.

MALTI / MALTESE

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema intensa ta’ pressjoni baxxa lejn in-naħa ta’ fuq ta’ l-Italja se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Fl-istess ħin, sistema ta’ pressjoni għolja se tkun qed tiżviluppa fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran. Dan se joħloq riħ qawwi għal qawwi ħafna mill-Majjistral għal Majjistral it-Tramuntana madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din it-twissija tkun fis-seħħ minn 06:00 sa 23:59 tat-Tlieta 23 ta’ Marzu. It-twissija tkun aġġornata jekk ikun hemm bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt jindikaw kif se tiżviluppa din is-sitwazzjoni matul dan il-ħin:

It-Tlieta 23/3

06:00 sa 09:00 – Majjistral Forza 5 għal 6

09:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral Forza 6 għal 7

12:00 sa 15:00 – Majjistral għal Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 7 għal 8

15:00 sa 18:00 – Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 7 għal 8

18:00 sa 21:00 – Majjistral it-Tramunatan Forza 6 għal 7

21:00 sa 23:59 – Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 5 għal 6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija se jolqtu lill-Gżejjer Maltin matul wara nofsinhar tat-Tlieta 23 ta’ Marzu, x’ħin se jilħqu sa Forza 8 kultant fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Il-baħar se jkun imqalleb ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 4.5 metri fil-buffuri l-aktar qawwija. L-imbatt se jkun baxx mill-Majjistral. Il-mappa ta’ hawn taħt turi l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ qawwi u baħar imqalleb.

Ir-riħ se jibqa moderat mill-Majjistral it-Tramuntana matul il-jum ta’ l-Erbgħa 24 ta’ Marzu.

Spring’s just started. The instability that has characterized our weather for the past week or two will linger on till midweek. We’re expecting further isolated showers and a strong northwesterly wind to continue affecting the Maltese Islands at times till early on Wednesday 24/3. Halfway through the week, a ridge of high pressure will develop across the central Mediterranean. This will expand and strengthen as the week progresses. In fact, we’re looking at long hours of uninterrupted bright sunshine from Wednesday 24/3 onward. The strong northwesterly wind will also die down by midweek. It will eventually give way to a southerly wind. The retreating instability will drag a mass of cold air from the north towards the central Mediterranean. Thanks to this, we are expecting temperatures to be colder than average for much of this week. With 12°C / 13°C highs and 7°C / 8°C lows, the first three days of the week will be the coldest. A gradual warming after midweek will see temperatures rising to 15°C / 16°C highs and 10°C / 11°C lows by the weekend.

In a stark contrast to this weekend’s rain, the isolated showers expected towards the start of the week will bring clean rain to our shores.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

Low pressure is likely to persist across the central Mediterranean for at least another week. Successive fronts will bring further isolated showers to the Maltese Islands. We’re expecting the coming days to be characterized by variably to mostly cloudy skies. The isolated showers will continue to be localized and brief, but possibly intense at times. Winds will be mainly light to moderate from an easterly direction on Friday 19/3 and Saturday 20/3. They will turn westerly from Sunday 21/3, and strengthen substantially. Temperatures will be mild over the long weekend, but a cold snap is looking increasingly likely for next week. A cold snap in March is characterized by nighttime lows of below 10°C and daytime highs not exceeding 15°C.

MALTI / MALTESE

Pressjoni baxxa għandha tippersisti madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran għal minn ta’ l-anqas ġimgħa oħra. Numru ta’ fronti konsekuttivi se jkunu qed iġibu magħhom aktar ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita lejn il-Gżejjer Maltin. Qed nistennew temp varjabbilment għal biċċa l-kbira msaħħab. Il-ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita se jkomplu jkunu lokaliżżati u qosra, imma possibilment qawwijin kultant. Ir-riħ se jkun il-biċċa l-kbira ħafif għal moderat mill-lvant nhar il-Ġimgħa 19/3 u s-Sibt 20/3. Dan idur Punent minn nhar il-Ħadd 21/3, u jżid sew. It-temperaturi se jkunu moderati għal tmiem il-ġimgħa, qabel ma jiksħu sew matul il-ġimgħa li ġejja. Mewġa ta’ kesħa f’Marzu tikklassifika bħala temperatura minima ta’ anqas minn 10°C u temperatura massima li ma taqbizx 15°C.

00:00 to 03:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 12°C to 11°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
03:00 to 06:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 11°C to 10°C; West Northwest Force 3 to 4
06:00 to 09:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 10°C to 13°C; Variable Force 2 to 3
09:00 to 12:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 13°C to 15°C; Variable Force 2 to 3
12:00 to 15:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 14°C / 15°C; East Southeast Force 3 to 4
15:00 to 18:00 – variably to mostly cloudy; 15°C to 13°C; East Southeast Force 3 to 4
18:00 to 21:00 – variably to mostly cloudy with the possibility of isolated showers; 12°C / 13°C; East Southeast Force 3 to 4
21:00 to 00:00 – variably to mostly cloudy with the possibility of isolated showers; 12°C / 13°C; East Southeast Force 4 to 5

The feast of St Joseph is celebrated on the 19th of March and is a Public Holiday in the Maltese Islands.

As was the case in the past week, the central Mediterranean will continue to be surrounded by various zones of instability. These will not be intense enough to bring any persistent rainfall to the Maltese Islands, however. We’ll be seeing a mix of different weather conditions. Some days will be sunny, while others will be cloudier. A few isolated showers are also likely on at least one day (Tuesday 16/3). Temperatures, particularly nighttime lows, will be less stable than of recent. We’re expecting minimum temperatures to range from 8°C to 13°C. Daytime highs will remain very consistent, as they continue to hover at the level of 16°C / 17°C. This week will be off to a windy start, as the Northwest to West Northwest wind will reach up to Force 7 till late on Tuesday 16/3. This will subside slightly around midweek, before the wind shifts to a more southerly direction and picks up again for the weekend.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A cold front associated with an intense low pressure system over northern Italy will traverse the central Mediterranean. In the meantime, a ridge of high pressure will develop across the western Mediterranean. This will generate a strong to very strong Northwest to West Northwest wind across the central Mediterranean. This warning is valid from 15:00 on Sunday 14^th March till 23:59 on Tuesday 16^th March. The warning will be updated when and if necessary. The information below describe how the situation will develop over this time period:

Sunday 14/3 

15:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 5 to 6

18:00 to 21:00 – West Northwest Force 6 to 7

21:00 to 00:00 – West Northwest Force 6 to 7

Monday 15/3

00:00 to 03:00 – West Northwest to Northwest Force 6

03:00 to 06:00 – Northwest Force 6

06:00 to 09:00 – Northwest Force 6

09:00 to 12:00 – Northwest Force 6

12:00 to 15:00 – Northwest Force 6

15:00 to 18:00 – Northwest Force 6

18:00 to 21:00 – Northwest Force 6

21:00 to 00:00 – Northwest Force 6

Tuesday 16/3

00:00 to 03:00 – Northwest to West Northwest Force 6 to 7

03:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest Force 6 to 7

06:00 to 09:00 – West Northwest Force 7 to 8

09:00 to 12:00 – West Northwest Force 7 to 8

12:00 to 15:00 – West Northwest Force 7 to 8

15:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 7 to 8

18:00 to 21:00 – West Northwest Force 6 to 7

21:00 to 23:59 – West Northwest Force 5 to 6

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the afternoon on Tuesday 16^th March, when they will reach Force 8 at times across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 5 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be a low to moderate Northwest. The map below shows the coast most exposed to this strong wind and rough sea.

The wind will decline to become mainly light by morning on Wednesday 17^th March.

MALTI / MALTESE

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema intensa ta’ pressjoni baxxa lejn in-naħa ta’ fuq ta’ l-Italja se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Fl-istess waqt, firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja se tiżviluppa fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran.  Dan se joħloq riħ qawwi għal qawwi ħafna mill-Majjistral għal Punent Majjistru madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din it-twissija se tkun fis-seħħ minn 15:00 tal-Ħadd 14 ta’ Marzu sa 03:00 ta’ l-Erbgħa 17 ta’ Marzu. It-twissija tkun aġġornata x’ħin u jekk ikun hemm bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt jindikaw kif se tiżviluppa din is-sitwazzjoni matul dan il-ħin:

Il-Ħadd 14/3 

15:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Force 5 sa 6

18:00 sa 21:00 – Punent Majjistru Force 6 sa 7

21:00 sa 00:00 – Punent Majjistru Force 6 sa 7

It-Tnejn 15/3

00:00 sa 03:00 – Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral Forza 6

03:00 sa 06:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

06:00 sa 09:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

09:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

12:00 sa 15:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

15:00 sa 18:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

18:00 sa 21:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

21:00 sa 00:00 – Majjistral Forza 6

It-Tlieta 16/3

00:00 sa 03:00 – Majjistral għal Punent Majjistru Forza 6 għal 7

03:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6 għal 7

06:00 sa 09:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7 għal 8

09:00 sa 12:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7 għal 8

12:00 sa 15:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7 għal 8

15:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7 għal 8

18:00 sa 21:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6 għal 7

21:00 sa 23:59 – Punent Majjistru Forza 5 għal 6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija se jolqtu lill-Gżejjer Maltin matul wara nofsinhar tat-Tlieta 16 ta’ Marzu, x’ħin se jilħqu sa Forza 8 kultant fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Il-baħar se jkun imqalleb ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 5 metri fil-buffuri l-aktar qawwija. L-imbatt se jkun baxx għal moderat mill-Majjistral. Il-mappa ta’ hawn taħt turi l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ qawwi u baħar imqalleb.

Ir-riħ se jonqos u jsir il-biċċa l-kbira ħafif sa filgħodu ta’ l-Erbgħa 17 ta’ Marzu.

The central Mediterranean will be surrounded by various zones of low pressure over the coming days. None of these will be affecting the Maltese Islands directly, however. As a result, we’re likely to experience a mix of weather conditions. Whilst most days this week will be partly to variably cloudy, one or two of them may be overcast. A little isolated light rain may occur on overcast days. We’re not yet sure when these will be, as maps continue to change. Any light rain will likely deposit some fine desert sand. It would be wise to postpone washing your cars and windows for now. It appears that we’re in for a mixture of days with light and variable winds, and others with a fairly strong wind. We’re expecting a northwesterly wind on Wednesday 10/3 and over the weekend. A southerly wind will characterize the remaining days. Once again, temperatures will remain stable throughout, with 16°C / 17°C daytime highs and 10°C to 12°C nighttime lows.

An anticyclone that has remained stationary over the central Mediterranean throughout the past week will start to weaken slightly, but this should not be enough to permit the return of decent rain to our shores. There will be little rain, if at all. A chance of a few isolated showers exists for Friday 5/3, but accumulations will be low. There will be a notable increase in cloud cover this week, as a result of a less stable atmosphere above the Maltese Islands. Temperatures should remain stable throughout, with 16°C / 17°C daytime highs and 11°C / 12°C nighttime lows. An easterly wind will be dominant this week. We’re expecting slightly stronger winds too, particularly towards the end of the week.

An anticyclone that established itself over the central Mediterranean last week will remain largely stationary, with the weather likely to stabilize further. We’re expecting this week to feature mainly partly cloudy skies, with plenty of bright sunshine. No rain is being anticipated. The strong southeasterly wind will prevail into Monday 22/2, but will die down on Tuesday 23/2, with the rest of the week set to be characterized by light winds. The southeasterly wind should lose its grip on the Maltese Islands, with forecasts suggesting a varying wind direction by midweek. Temperatures will be stable throughout. We’re looking at 16°C / 17°C daytime highs and 10°C / 11°C nighttime lows. Both values are slightly above the norm for this time of year.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A zone of high pressure (anticyclone) is likely to persist over the central Mediterranean for the time being, with mainly sunny or partly cloudy skies for much of the time. We anticipate very little rain, if at all. For this reason, and as was forecast at the beginning of the month, February will continue to be significantly drier than average. The wind will also be far less strong than in recent days. Temperatures will also be stable, with 16°C to 17°C daytime highs and 10°C to 11°C nighttime lows for now. This zone of high pressure could prevail till at least the start of March, when the next instability becomes possible.

MALTI / MALTESE

Firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja (antiċiklun) mistenni tippersisti fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran għalissa, bit-temp ikun il-biċċa l-kbira xemxi jew ftit imsaħħab għal maġġoranza tal-ħin. Filfatt, ftit li xejn qed nistennew xita. Għal din ir-raġuni, u kif imbassar sa mil-bidu tax-xahar, Frar għandu jkun wieħed b’ferm anqas xita mill-medja. Ir-riħ ukoll se jkun anqas qawwi minn kemm kien qed ikun dan l-aħħar. It-temperaturi se jkunu stabbli wkoll, b’temperaturi massimi ta’ 16°C sa 17°C u temperaturi minimi ta’ 10°C sa 11°C għalissa. Din il-firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja taf tippersisti sa l-ewwel jiem ta’ Marzu, meta jkun hemm iċ-ċans ta’ perjodu nstabbli.