According to climate data, the mean temperature in January is of 12.7°C (a 15.6°C high and a 9.8°C low). Total precipitation in a typical January amounts to 94.1 mm. Climatically, it is the second wettest month of the year. January, being the second month of the meteorological winter, brings us closer to the coldest part of the year. A typical January would be characterized by one or two cold snaps. Spells of warmer weather in between is not unusual. The bulk of the rain that falls in January is often the product of a weather pattern referred to locally as ‘Pruvenz’. This refers to a series of days characterized by cool to cold westerly currents and brief but intense showers that may be accompanied by hail and a rumble or two of thunder. With this weather, the rain does not come in downpours but at a rate that allows the soil to soak in the water more efficiently without unnecessary damage. Some frontal systems also bring the occasional episode of continuous light to moderate rainfall with the potential of producing significant rainfall amounts. Northwesterly gales are common during January.

The majority of long-term weather models expect January 2022 to bring temperatures which are around the norm. The first week of the month will be much warmer, however. A cold snap could occur halfway through the month. Although episodes of strong wind will be guaranteed, these should not be more than what we normally experience. The same models expect January 2022 to be at least slightly drier than average. This outlook is to be taken only as indicative. It indicates that storm systems across the central Mediterranean will be less frequent than in a typical year. One or two stormy episodes and one or two misses, may easily produce plentiful precipitation, pushing values to above or below average respectively. Whether or not it ends up being average or wetter than average depends on whether storm systems that form around us end up affecting land or not.

 

FURTHER OUTLOOK (TEMPERATURE) FOR FEB-MAR-APR 2022 – Average

FURTHER OUTLOOK (PRECIPITATION) FOR FEB-MAR-APR 2022 – Drier than Average*

* A ‘Drier than Average’ outlook means that maps are pointing towards quieter than normal storm system activity around the central Mediterranean. Whether or not a month ends up being drier or wetter than average will depend on whether any rain-producing systems that form affect land or not. This is because one or two stormy episodes may easily produce plentiful precipitation, pushing values to above average. Conversely, one or two near misses may leave the Maltese Islands land area dry, pushing values to below average.