An anticyclone over the central Mediterranean has strengthened. It will draw in very hot air from over north Africa, bringing a heat spell to the Maltese Islands. This heat spell will likely be the hottest part of this year’s summer. From Tuesday 28/07 till at least Monday 03/08 (this may be extended), the maximum temperatures will soar to 35°C / 36°C, with realfeels possibly reaching 40°C on the hottest of days. That is 4°C to 5°C more than the average for this time of year. Minimum temperatures at night will be in the region of 24°C / 25°C on most nights. Windless nights will be especially warm and clammy. A fresh Northwest breeze on some days, especially over the weekend, will make the situation more bearable. Skies will be sunny, with early and late mist or fog patches. This heat spell will not qualify as a heatwave though, as the maximum temperatures will never be more than 5°C hotter than what we normally have for three or more consecutive days.

The situation across parts of Europe will be worse. A handful of localities across Spain, France and Italy will see temperatures of up to 40°C.

Antiċiklun fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran issaħħaħ sew. Dan se jtella miegħu arja sħuna ħafna minn fuq l-Afrika ta’ Fuq, biex b’hekk jwassal għal perjodu ta’ temperaturi sħan. Il-jiem li ġejjin x’aktarx ikunu l-aktar sħan għal din is-sena. Minn nhar it-Tlieta 28/07 sa nhar it-Tnejn 03/08 (tista tiġi estiża), it-temperaturi massimi se tilħaq 35°C / 36°C, u f’xi jiem partikolari tista tkun tinħass daqs li kieku 40°C. Dan huwa minn 4°C sa 5°C ogħla mill-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. It-temperaturi minimi se jkunu fir-reġjun ta’ 24°C / 25°C f’ħafna ljieli. Iljieli bla riħ ikunu partikolarment sħan u skomdi. Żiffa ħelwa mill-Majjistral f’xi jiem, speċjalment lejn tmiem il-ġimgħa, se tħaffef mill-qilla tas-sħana. Is-sema se jkun xemxi, b’irqajja ta’ ċpar kmieni u tard. Dan il-perjodu ta’ temperaturi ogħla mill-medja mhux se jikkwalifika bħala ‘heatwave’, pero. Dan minħabba li t-temperaturi qatt ma huma se jkunu 5°C jew aktar ogħla mill-medja għal tlett ijiem konsekkuttivi jew aktar.

Is-sitwazzjoni madwar xi nħawi ta’ l-Ewropa se tkun agħar. Xi lokalitajiet fi Spanja, Franza u l-Italja se jesperjenzaw temperaturi li jlaħħqu 40°C.