ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A stream of hot air from the Sahara Desert will extend across the western and central Mediterranean this week. The arrival of hot air from the desert marks the first heat spell of the year. Maximum temperatures will hover at 33°C / 34°C for a week. Minimum temperatures will be in the region of 22°C / 23°C. The air will feel very humid at times. This is because the sun will continue evaporating water from last weekend’s rain showers. High levels of relative humidity make the air feel warmer and clammier than it actually is, especially at night. The UV Index will climb higher. It will alternate between 10 and 11+ over the coming week. These are the highest values on the scale. A UV Index of 10 and 11+ indicates extreme risk of harm from unprotected exposure to the Sun. Direct exposure to the sun should be avoided at the peak hours of 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. If outdoors, seek shade where possible. You should wear protective clothing, sunscreen, a hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Keep in mind that bright surfaces such as sand and water will increase UV exposure. Keep in mind that prolonged exposure and/or physical activity in the heat can lead to some serious heat disorders. Another risk worth being aware of is that of grass fires. The landscape at this time of year is parched. Some spots are covered in tall dry grass. Many valleys are covered in reeds. The heat elevates the risk of grass fires. As a result, The Fire Weather Index reaches an extremely high level locally.

Be careful in the summer months and follow these precautions to minimize the risk of any of the hazards associated with extreme heat. 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 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

– Have cool baths or showers.

– Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water or juice. Avoid hot and/or dehydrating drinks.

– If outdoors, seek shade and wear protective clothing.

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

– 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 …)

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.

All in all, we’re certain that the transition to summer is at an advanced stage now! We repeat our long-standing outlook for this year’s summer: It’s likely that this summer will be characterized by long waves of sweltering heat that will be broken up by occasional brief episodes of cooler than average temperatures and breezy conditions. These would bring some respite from recurrent waves of searing heat.

 

MALTI / MALTESE

Kurrenti ta’ arja taħraq minn fuq id-deżert se jestendi lejn il-punent u ċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran matul il-ġimgħa. Il-wasal ta’ din l-arja sħuna tagħti bidu għall-ewwel mewġa ta’ sħana għal din is-sena. Għal madwar ġimgħa, it-temperatura massima se tkun fil-livell ta’ 33°C / 34°C. It-temperatura minima tkun ta’ 22°C / 23°C. L-arja se tinħass umda’ ħafna kultant. Dan minħabba l-fatt li x-xemx se tkompli tevapora l-ilma tax-xita li kellna fi tmiem il-ġimgħa. Livelli għoljin ta’ umdita’ jwasslu biex l-arja tinħass aktar sħuna u mdellka, speċjalment billejl. L-Indiċi UV se żżid ukoll. Din se tvarja bejn 10 u 11+ matul din il-ġimgħa. Dawn huma l-ogħla valuri fuq l-iskala u jindikaw riskju estrem ta’ ħsara minn espożizzjoni diretta għax-xemx. Għandek tieħu prekawzzjonijiet addizzjonali biex tevita ħsara lil ġilda u għajnejn. Jekk inhu possibbli, naqqas il-ħin li tqatta fix-xemx bejn 10 a.m. u 4 p.m. Jekk ma tistax tagħmel mod ieħor; fittex li toqgħod fid-dell kull x’ħin tista u ara li tilbes ilbies li joffri protezzjoni mix-xemx. Dawn jinkludu beritta/kappell, nuċċali tax-xemx li jilqa għal UV kif ukoll li tuża sunscreen SPF 30+. Uċuħ ċari bħal ma huma r-ramel u l-baħar iżidu l-qawwi ta’ l-UV. Strapazz u attivita fiżika eċċessiva fl-aktar partijiet sħan tal-ġurnata jistgħu iwasslu għal numru ta’ kundizzjonijiet assoċjati ma’ sħana qawwija ħafna. Riskju addizzjonali li huwa sew tkunu tafu bih huwa dak ta’ riskju ta’ nirien. Il-kampanja bħalissa niexfa. Xi nħawi huma miksija b’ħaxix twil ħafna u niexef. Il-widien ikunu mimlija qasab. Is-sħana twassal biex ir-riskju ta’ nirien ikun elevat.

Oqgħodu attenti matul ix-xhur tas-sajf u segwu dawn il-messaġġi ta’ prekawzjonijiet biex tnaqqsu r-riskju tal-perikli msemmija hawn fuq. Dawn jinkludu:

– 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.

– 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 jimxu 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 …).

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

Ma hemmx dubju li l-qalba għal temp sajfi issa hija fi stat avvanzat ħafna! Nirrepetu it-tbassir fit-tul li kien ilna ngħidu dwaru għal dan is-sajf: Jidher li s-sajf se jkun ikkarateriżżat minn numru ta’ episodji twal ta’ sħana qalila, b’waqtiet qosra ta’ temp anqas sħun u xi ftit mirjieħ bejniethom. Dawn iġibu xi ftit soljev mis-sħana tas-sajf minn żmien għal ieħor.