Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 34.6°C 30th
Lowest Maximum 27.4°C 7th
Highest Minimum 25.8°C 31st 
Lowest Minimum 21.1°C 10th

 

Mean Maximum 30.6°C
Mean Minimum 22.9°C
Mean 26.7°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 97% Several Days
Lowest Relative Humidity 35% 2nd

 

Mean Relative Humidity 76.7%

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1020.3hPa 21st
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1008.1hPa 6th and 7th 

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1014.5hPa

 

Wind

Highest Gust 51.5km/h 4th and 5th 

 

Mean Wind Speed 8.2km/h
Mean Gust Speed 15.0km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed 11.6km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During July 2020 0.3 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 406.1 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 0.3 mm 2oth

 

Rain Days 1
Thunderstorm Days 0
Hail Days 0

 

Rainfall Events

20/07/2020 0.3 mm Light Rain Shower

 

July 2020 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean July 2020 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 31.2°C 30.6°C -0.6°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 22.0°C 22.9°C +0.9°C
Mean Temperature 26.6°C 26.7°C +0.1°C
Mean Relative Humidity 69% 76.7% +7.7%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1015.7hPa 1014.5hPa -1.2hPa
Mean Wind Speed 13.3 km/h 11.6km/h -1.7km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest Northwest 0°
Total Rainfall 0.3 mm 0.3 mm 0 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 547.8 mm 406.1 mm -141.7 mm
Total Rain Days 0 0 +1
Total Thunderstorm Days 0 0 0
Total Hail Days 0 0 0

 

Cooler Days but Warmer Nights in July 2020

At 30.6°C, daytime highs were 0.6°C cooler than normal. Conversely, at 22.9°C, nighttime lows were 0.9°C warmer than the norm. This made for an overall difference of only 0.1°C from the climate mean. Up till 23rd July, maximum temperatures exceeded the climatic norm of 31.2°C on only three days. This was due to the presence of an upper level cold pool. This covered the central Mediterranean for a large part of the first two thirds of the month. Apart from keeping temperatures cool, this cold pool was responsible for several days with a breezy Northwest wind. The final nine days, on the other hand, were characterised by a heat spell. July 2020’s hottest temperature was recorded at 34.6°C on the 30th. This was followed by the month’s warmest night. A minimum temperature of 25.8°C was measured just before dawn on the 31st. Dipping into the sea during this heat spell provided little respite. The sea surface temperature shot up to 28°C, a full 3°C above the climate mean, in the final days of July 2020.

July 2020 is known for being the year’s driest month. This time round, it was a tad different, at least for a few localities. A heavy rain shower produced up to 30.5 mm in localised areas. Rain in July is rare, but not unheard of. This was only the third time in recent decades that such heavy rainfall occurred in July. Meanwhile, our weather station in Għarb only recorded a brief shower, with 0.3 mm of rainfall.

Levels of relative humidity were significantly higher than in a typical July. In fact, all but one morning recorded relative humidity greater than 90%. Most mornings were characterised by mist or fog patches and low clouds. The more humid air can be attributed to the warmer than average sea across the central Mediterranean.