The peak of the summer heat is at the door. A plume of hot to very hot air will rise from north Africa later on this week, marking the start of yet another heat spell, and possibly another heatwave. This plume will be accompanied by high humidity. This will make matters worse. Maximum temperatures will be at or above 34 C from Thursday 08/08 till Thursday 15/08. The hottest days will be the ones leading up to Santa Marija. One day with a high of up to 40 C is not excluded. Minimum temperatures will be at 25 C to 27 C. The sea surface temperature might climb to around 28 C because of this period of intense heat. The sky will be sunny or mainly sunny throughout. Winds will be mainly light and variable. The first half of August is traditionally considered the hottest part of summer. Since it coincides with the feast of Saint Lawrence, the Maltese refer to this period of intensely hot weather as ‘il-ħruq ta’ San Lawrenz’.

L-aqwa tas-sajf qiegħed wara l-bieb. Massa ta’ arja sħuna ħafna minn l-Afrika ta’ fuq se testendi lejn il-Gżejjer Maltin aktar tard din il-ġimgħa, u b’hekk timmarka l-bidu ta’ ‘heat spell’ oħra, u possibilment anke ‘heatwave’. Din l-arja sħuna se tkun akkumpanjata minn livelli għoljin ta’ umdita. Din mistennija tiggrava s-sitwazzjoni. It-temperaturi massimi se jkunu ta’ 34 C jew ogħla mill-Ħamis 08/08 sal-Ħamis 15/08. L-aktar jiem jaħarqu se jkunu dawk ta’ eżatt qabel Santa Marija. Minn ta’ l-anqas jum wieħed b’temperatura ta’ 40 C mhux eskluż. It-temperaturi minimi se jkunu bejn 25 C u 27 C. It-temperatura tal-baħar tista tilħaq 28 C minħabba dan il-perjodu ta’ sħana. Is-sema se jkun xemxi. Nistennew ukoll riħ ħafif u varjabbli. L-ewwel nofs ta’ Awwissu huwa tradizzjonalment magħruf bħala l-aktar ġranet sħan tas-sajf. Peress li jaħbat mal-festa ta’ San Lawrenz, ħafna jafuh bħala ‘l-ħruq ta’ San Lawrenz’.