Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 32.1°C 10th
Lowest Maximum 24.3°C 26th
Highest Minimum 24.8°C 4th 
Lowest Minimum 19.4°C 14th

 

Mean Maximum 28.4°C
Mean Minimum 22.9°C
Mean 25.7°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 95% 14th
Lowest Relative Humidity 45% 26th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 74.7%

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1023.4hPa 4th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1005.1hPa 27th

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1015.7hPa

 

Wind

Highest Gust 61.2km/h 26th

 

Mean Wind Speed 8.5km/h
Mean Gust Speed 16.7km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed 12.6km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During September 2020 133.7 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 133.7 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 112.1 mm 14th

 

Rain Days 8
Thunderstorm Days 1
Hail Days 6

 

September 2020 Compared to the Climate Means

  Climate Mean September 2020 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 28.1°C 28.4°C +0.3°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 21.1°C 22.9°C +1.8°C
Mean Temperature 24.6°C 25.7°C +1.1°C
Mean Relative Humidity 77% 74.7% -2.3%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1017.4hPa 1015.7hPa -1.7hPa
Mean Wind Speed 13.7 km/h 12.6 km/h -1.1km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest Northwest 0°
Total Rainfall 49.9 mm 133.7 mm +83.8 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 49.9 mm 133.7 mm +83.8 mm
Total Rain Days 4 8 +4
Total Thunderstorm Days 3 6 +3
Total Hail Days 1 1 0

 

Hotter September 2020

A hotter than average September brought summer 2020 to an end. With a mean temperature of 25.7°C, September 2020 was 1.1°C warmer than the climate norm. Nights were particularly warm. The mean minimum temperature of 22.9°C exceeded the climate mean by a staggering 1.8°C. Temperatures dropped to below average on only two occasions. These were the 13th and 14th, thanks to widespread thunderstorms. A cold front which swept Europe at the end of the month also reached the Maltese Islands. This ensured a cool final five days.

September 2020 produced 133.7 mm of precipitation at our weather station in Għarb. That is just under three times the amount in a typical September. 83% of this fell in just a few hours, during a torrential thunderstorm in the afternoon of the 14th. There were 8 days of rain in total last month. Thunder was heard on 6 of these. Some hail was observed on 1 of these, the 14th. Of the 8 rainy days, 6 had a total rainfall of 2.5 mm or less. Statistically, September 2020 was much wetter than normal when compared to the climate average. When you dig into the numbers, however, you’ll see that much of the rain fell in one or two heavy rainfall events halfway through the month.

September 2020 was not as windy. The wind reached Force 7 on only four days. The highest wind gust of 61.2 km/h (from the Northwest) was measured on the 26th. 17 of 30 days were characterised by a wind speed of Force 2 (light breeze).

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in September 2020

Għarb – 133.7 mm

Victoria – 123.7 mm

Xewkija – 88.4 mm

Nadur – 123.5 mm

Mellieħa – 79.4 mm

Buġibba – 74.0 mm

Mġarr – 66.0 mm

Għargħur – 106.0 mm

Attard – 172.8 mm

Rabat – 53.8 mm

Msida – 134.4 mm

Valletta – 81.6 mm

Luqa – 143.4 mm

Żabbar – 142.8 mm

Birżebbuġa – 73.0 mm