The Maltese Islands will swelter in an intense heat wave in the second half of this week, and the first half of the next. Maximum temperatures will be at or above 35 C on all days from Thursday 01/08 till Wednesday 07/08. Any hope of sleep in comfortable temperatures has evaporated too, with nighttime temperatures set to be above 25 C throughout the duration of this impending heat wave. By definition, a heatwave is a spell of three or more consecutive days with daytime highs exceeding the mean maximum temperature for that particular time of year by 5°C or more. Exactly as expected at this time of year, this heat wave will be caused by an extension of the Sahara Desert high pressure system over the central Mediterranean. This will drag very hot air from over north Africa. The relatively high humidity will push real-feel values up. They will reach 41 C at times early in the afternoon. These real-feel values can lead to some dangerous heat disorders with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity in the heat. Sea surface temperatures will rise to 27 C, over two degrees above the norm for this time of year.

The UV Index will be at an extreme 11+. 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 minimise 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.

 

Il-Gżejjer Maltin se jgħaddu minn perjodu ieħor qasir ta’ sħana qawwija ħafna tul it-tieni parti ta’ din il-ġimgħa u l-ewwel parti tal-ġimgħa li ġejja. It-temperaturi se jilħqu 35 C jew aktar fil-jiem kollha mill-Ħamis 01/08 sa l-Erbgħa 07/08. L-anqas billejl se jkunu ogħla minn 25 C matul din il-mewġa ta’ sħana. Id-definizzjoni ta’ mewġa ta’ sħana hija tlett ijiem konsekuttivi jew aktar b’temperaturi massimi li jaqbżu l-medja għal dak iż-żmien tas-sena b’5 C jew aktar. Bħal ma hu mistenni f’dan iż-żmien tas-sena, din il-mewġa ta’ sħana se tkun ikkawżata minn pressjoni għolja li se testendi minn fuq id-deżert tas-Sahara lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din se ġġib magħha sħana qawwija minn fuq l-Afrika ta’ fuq. L-arja umda se twassal biex it-temperaturi jkunu jinħassu aktar sħan. L-ogħla temperaturi jafu jkunu jinħassu daqs li kieku 41 C. Dawn il-valuri jistgħu iwasslu għal xi kundizzjonijiet assoċjati ma’ sħana qawwija ħafna. Dawn jinkludu ‘heat cramps’, ‘heat exhaustion’ u ‘heat stroke’.

L-indiċi UV se tkun f’livell estrem ta’ 11+. Dan ifisser riskju estrem ta’ ħsara mix-xemx. Ħudu kull prekawzzjoni 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.