After the latest model update, we have decided to issue a weather warning. The main threat appears to be from a squall line capable of producing a large amount of precipitation in a very short period of time. This thunderstorm warning will be valid from 03:00 till 15:00 on Sunday 24/11, unless otherwise indicated.

An intense low pressure system will be traversing the western Mediterranean over the course of this weekend. When over the Tyrrhenian Sea, a front associated with this system will move across the central Mediterranean. It will mainly affect Sicily, but could extend south enough to also affect the Maltese Islands. The warm and humid air locally will clash with the cold air behind the front, activating the front. A squall line may develop along the front. A squall line is an elongated line of thunderstorms that tends to form along or ahead of a front. If this does affect the Maltese Islands, expect rain which will be heavy, thundery and with hail at times. It is most likely early in the morning on Sunday 24/11. Total rainfall may reach 50 mm in hardest hit localities. Whilst the warning for this particular thunderstorm will be in effect from 03:00 till 15:00 on Sunday 24/11, heavy rain showers are possible at any time from late on Saturday 23/11 till early on Monday 25/11.

Apart from heavy rainfall, the Maltese Islands will also experience some strong winds. At its strongest, the wind could reach Force 6/7 at times (from the South on Saturday 23/11, from the West on Sunday 24/11 and from the West Northwest on Monday 25/11).

 

Wara l-aħħar aġġornament tal-mapep, iddeċidejna li noħorġu twissija. Jidher li l-aktar ħaġa li hija possibbli se tkun ammont ta’ xita f’ħin qasir minn ‘squall line’. It-twissija ta’ maltempata se tkun fis-seħħ minn 03:00 sa 15:00 tal-Ħadd 24/11, sakemm mhux indikat mod ieħor.

Sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa intensa se tkun qed tgħaddi minn fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran tul tmiem il-ġimgħa. X’ħin din se tkun fuq il-baħar Tirren, front assoċjat ma’ din l-istess sistema se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Se jaffetwa b’mod partikolari lil Sqallija, imma jaf jestendi biżejjed l-isfel li jmiss lilna wkoll. L-arja sħuna u umda li hawn madwarna għandha taħbat ma’ arja kiesħa abbinata ma’ dan il-front, biex b’hekk tibda l-maltemp. Jidher li se tkun qed tiżviluppa ‘squall line’ ma’ dan il-front. ‘Squall line’ hija linja ta’ maltempati bir-ragħad li tiżviluppa ma’ jew qabel front. Jekk din tmiss lill-Gżejjer Maltin, stennew xita li tkun qawwija, bir-ragħad u bis-silġ kultant. Jidher li ċ-ċans huwa ogħla kmieni l-Ħadd 24/11. It-total ta’ xita jaf jilħaq 50 mm fl-aktar lokalitajiet milquta. Minkejja li t-twissija għal din il-maltempata tkun fis-seħħ minn 03:00 sa 15:00 tal-Ħadd 24/11, ħalbiet tax-xita qawwijin huma possibbli minn ħin għal-ieħor minn tard is-Sibt 23/11 sa kmieni t-Tnejn 25/11.

Apparti x-xita qawwija, il-Gżejjer Maltin se jintlaqtu wkoll minn riħ qawwi. Fl-aqwa tiegħu, dan jista jilħaq Forza 6/7 kultant (minn Nofsinhar is-Sibt 23/11, mill-Punent il-Ħadd 24/11 u mill-Punent Majjistru t-Tnejn 25/11).