The Maltese Islands have been in the grip of a drought since the beginning of December 2019. For 10 weeks, the Maltese Islands have experienced drier-than-average weather, with only a few localised rainfall events. A total of 44.0 mm were measured by our weather station in Għarb since 1st December 2019. That makes up just 7% of the total precipitation we normally receive during this time. The last time we had nationwide significant rainfall was back on 25th November 2019. This is the result of a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). In this state, high pressure to our west is stronger than normal. Simultaneously, low pressure over Iceland is also stronger than the norm. This setting prevents low pressure systems forming over the Atlantic from reaching the Mediterranean and southern Europe, as they are deviated to the north. As a result, the Maltese Islands are experiencing a drier winter. The situation may change in the coming days, as the positive NAO is showing signs of weakening. More details will be issued when available.

Il-Gżejjer Maltin ilhom maqbudin minn nixfa kbira sa mill-bidu ta’ Diċembru 2019. Għal 10 ġimgħat, esperjenzajna temp aktar niexef minn normal, bi ftit xita lokaliżżata biss. Total ta’ 44.0 mm ġew imkejjla minn l-istazzjon tat-temp tagħna ġewwa l-Għarb sa minn l-1 ta’ Diċembru 2019. Dak ifisser li ħadna biss 7% ta’ dak li normalment nieħdu tul dan iż-żmien. L-aħħar darba li għamlet xita sinifikanti mifruza mal-pajjiż kollu kien fil-25 ta’ Novembru 2019. Dan huwa r-riżultat ta’ North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) pożittiva. Fl-istat pożittiv tagħha, ir-roqgħa ta’ pressjoni għolja lejn il-punent tagħna tkun aktar b’saħħitha minn normal. Fl-istess waqt, il-pressjoni baxxa fuq l-Iżlanda tkun aktar qawwija minn normal. Din is-sitwazzjoni metejoroloġika żżomm sistemi ta’ pressjoni baxxa li jiffurmaw barra fuq l-Atlantiku minn li jilħqu il-Mediterran u n-nofsinhar ta’ l-Ewropa, hekk kif dawn ikunu mbuttati ‘l fuq. Ir-riżultat ta’ dan hija xitwa niexfa għal Gżejjer Maltin. Is-sitwazzjoni tista tinbidel, hekk kif l-NAO pożittiva qed turu sinjali żgħar ta’ dgħjufija. Aktar dettalji jinħarġu meta jkunu għandna.