Air Temperature

Highest Maximum 17.9°C 26th
Lowest Maximum 12.4°C 6th
Highest Minimum 13.5°C 26th 
Lowest Minimum 7.3°C 5th

 

Mean Maximum 15.7°C
Mean Minimum 11.1°C
Mean 13.4°C

 

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity 100% Several days
Lowest Relative Humidity 49% 5th

 

Mean Relative Humidity 87.9%

 

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure 1034.5hPa 22nd
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure 1019.7hPa 26th

 

Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1025.5hPa

 

Wind

Highest Gust 56.3km/h 5th

 

Mean Wind Speed 9.0km/h
Mean Gust Speed 31.6km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed 20.3km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest

 

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During January 2020 8.9 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 357.2 mm

 

Highest 24 Hour Total 5.9 mm 13th

 

Rain Days 4
Thunderstorm Days 0
Hail Days 0

 

Rainfall Events

12/01/2020 0.5 mm Drizzle
13/01/2020 5.9 mm Isolated Showers
14/01/2020 1.5 mm Isolated Light Rain
21/01/2020 1.0 mm Isolated Light Rain

 

January 2020 Compared to the Climate Means 

  Climate Mean January 2020 Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature 15.4°C 15.7°C +0.3°C
Mean Minimum Temperature 9.9°C 11.1°C +1.2°C
Mean Temperature 12.7°C 13.4°C +0.7°C
Mean Relative Humidity 79% 87.9% +8.9%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure 1018.2hPa 1025.5hPa +7.3hPa
Mean Wind Speed 18.9 km/h 20.3km/h +1.4km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction Northwest Northwest 0°
Total Rainfall 85.4 mm 8.9 mm -76.5 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09 411.5 mm 357.2 mm -54.3 mm
Total Rain Days 13 4 -9
Total Thunderstorm Days 3 0 -3
Total Hail Days 1 0 -1

 

January 2020 was one of the Driest on Record

The month of January was extremely drier than average. In fact, it came close to breaking a decades old record for the driest January ever. The measly 8.9 mm measured over the course of this month was just 10% of the total we normally receive in a typical January. In terms of dry weather, January 2020 continued the trend set at the beginning of December 2019. Only 4 days of rain were recorded. With the exception of a brief hailstorm in Mellieħa, no thunder or hail was observed across the Maltese Islands this month. All rain this January came in brief isolated showers, a weather pattern we often experience in late spring.

With regards to air temperatures, the Maltese Islands experienced a mild January. Daytime highs, at a mean of 15.7°C, were only slightly above the average. The average nighttime low of 11.1°C, however, was a solid 1.2°C greater than the mean for this time of year. A brief cold spell towards the start of the month registered January 2020’s coldest minimum temperature of 7.3°C. No other cold spell was observed over the course of the month. The rest of January 2020, especially its second half, was marked by warmer than average temperatures.

January is typically a windy month, locally. January 2020 was overally quite breezy, with winds reaching the Force 4/5 mark on a number of days. However, it was marked by the complete abscence of gale-force winds. The highest wind gust last month was of only 56.3 km/h, from the North Northwest.

A very strong positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was present throughout the month. A stronger than usual Azores High in combination with a deeper than normal Icelandic Low left its impact on the data gathered by our weather station in Għarb. Anticyclones characterised our weather in January 2020. Low pressure systems coming in from the Atlantic were forced northwards. This meteorological situation meant that the Maltese Islands experienced some very dry weather and milder temperatures throughout the month of January 2020. This was confirmed by atmospheric pressure gathered at our weather station in Għarb. The mean value of 1025.5hPa exceeded the climate average significantly. The maximum atmospheric pressure reading of 1034.5hPa came very close to breaking the all time record.