The temperature soared to 37 C on Sunday 09/06 and Monday 10/06. Initially, the heat spell was expected to last till midweek. Latest maps indicate that it will last till Sunday 16/06, albeit with slightly cooler temperatures. Maximum daytime highs till Sunday 16/06 will reach 33 C. Nighttime lows will be at 24 C on all nights. Winds will be mainly from the Southeast. This will mean higher levels of humidity, and therefore, even hotter realfeels. The situation will change late on Sunday 16/06, when the wind turns Northwest. The Northwest wind will mean more seasonable highs of 29 C / 30 C and lows of 20 C / 21 C from Monday 17/07 onward. No rain is being anticipated for the time being.

The UV Index will be at a very high 10. This means an extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Take all precautions because unprotected skin and eyes can be damaged in minutes. UV is highest in the early afternoon.

The landscape is parched. The abundant rainfall last winter has caused grass to grow taller than normal. Because of this, some areas are covered in very tall dry grass. Many valleys are covered in reeds. The extreme heat will elevate the risk of grass fires in the coming days. As a result, The Fire Weather Index is at an extremely high level locally.

Be careful and follow these precautions to minimize the risk of any of the hazards mentioned earlier. Precautions include:

– Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. Open again when cool.

– Stay in the coolest part of any building if possible.

– Stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 4pm.

– Have cool baths or showers.

– Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water or juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.

– If outdoors, seek shade and wear protective clothing.

– Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

– Seek medical attention in case of heat-related symptoms.

– Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen and sunglasses.

– Watch out for bright surfaces, like sand and water, which reflect UV and increase exposure.

– Keep all pets and possibly stray animals in a cool area.

– Do not take pets out for walks in the sun (you may have shoes to protect your feet but their paws are in contact with the hot ground).

– Never leave anyone (including pets) in closed vehicles.

– Be more careful with materials conducive to fires (such as BBQs, cigarettes, glass disposal, garden litter etc …)

– Be careful extremely careful with fireworks, especially burning debris falling from the sky.

Remember that babies, young children, people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, the elderly and others whose job includes being physically active are at a greater risk.

 

It-temperatura sparat għal 37 C nhar il-Ħadd 09/06 u t-Tnejn 10/06. Għal-ewwel, il-mewġa ta’ sħana kienet mistennija ddum sa nofs il-ġimgħa. L-aħħar mapep indikaw li din għandha tibqa sejra sa nhar il-Ħadd 16/06 minflok. Minkejja dan, it-temperaturi mhux se jibqgħu sħan daqs kemm kienu dan l-aħħar. L-ogħla temperatura sa nhar il-Ħadd 16/06 se jitilgħu għal 33 C. L-anqas billejl se tinżel sa 24 C. Ir-riħ se jkun il-biċċa l-kbira mix-Xlokk. Dan ifisser livelli għoljin ta’ umdita, u għalhekk, it-temperaturi se jinħassu ferm aktar sħan. Is-sitwazzjoni mistennija tinbidel tard il-Ħadd 16/06, meta r-riħ idur Majjistral. Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral se jġib temperaturi aktar staġġjonali ta’ 29 C / 30 C bħala massimi u 20 C / 21 C billejl minn nhar it-Tnejn 17/07 ‘il quddiem. Mhux qed nistennew xita għal issa.

L-indiċi UV se tkun f’livell għoli ta’ 10. Dan ifisser riskju estrem ta’ ħsara mix-xemx. Ħudu il-prekawzzjonijiet kollha peress li ġilda u għajnejn mhux protetti jistgħu isofru ħsara f’ħin qasir. Il-UV tkun l-ogħla kmieni wara nofsinhar.

Il-kampanja bħalissa niexfa. Ix-xita abbundanti tax-xitwa li għaddiet wasslet biex il-ħaxix twal aktar minn normal. Minħabba dan, xi nħawi huma miksija b’ħaxix twil ħafna u niexef. Il-widien ikunu mimlija qasab. Is-sħana estrema se twassal biex ir-riskju ta’ nirien ikun elevat.

Oqgħodu attenti u segwu dawn il-messaġġi ta’ prekawzjonijiet biex tnaqqsu r-riskju tal-perikli msemmija hawn fuq.

– Agħlqu t-twieqi u l-blinds/shutters fl-eqqel tas-sħana. Erġa iftaħ x’ħin jiffriska.

– Oqgħodu fl-aktar parti friska tal-bini.

– Evitaw li toqgħodu fix-xemx bejn 11am u 4pm.

– Inħaslu b’ilma frisk.

– Ixorbu xarbiet kesħin ta’ spiss. Pruvaw evitaw te’, kafe’ u alkoħol.

– Jekk tkunu barra, sibu d-dell u lbsu lbies addattat, kappell u nuċċali tax-xemx.

– Iċċekjaw li qraba, ħbieb u ġirien li ma jistgħux jieħdu ħsieb tagħhom infushom, ikunu sew.

– Ikkonsulta tabib f’każ ta’ sintomi marbuta ma’ kundizzjonijiet ta’ sħana

– Użaw SPF 30% sunscreen u nuċċali tax-xemx.

– Żommu l-annimali tagħkom u anke dawk tat-triq jekk possibbli f’post frisk.

– Toħorġux lil klieb jimxi fix-xemx (intom għandkom żarbun jipproteġikom mil-art tikwi, l-annimali ma għandhomx).

– Qatt tħalli lil ħadd, inkluż annimali, f’vetturi.

– Użaw materjali fjammabbli b’aktar reqqa (bħal BBQs, sigaretti, ħġieġ, kimiċi tal-pool, skart organiku etc …).

– Oqogħdu attenti mill-logħob tan-nar.

Ftakkru li trabi, tfal żgħar, nies b’kundizzjonijiet li ma jidhrux, nisa tqal, xjuħ u nies li jaħdmu fuq barra għandhom riskju akbar.