Warnings
STRONG WIND WARNING - The West Northwest wind will reach Force 6/7 across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. This warning is valid in the evening on Sunday 22nd December.
This warning is valid from late in the evening on Sunday 22nd December till late in the evening on Tuesday 24th December.
A cold front associated with an intense low pressure system over the Adriatic Sea will be sweeping the central Mediterranean during the weekend. This will lead to a gale-force wind from the West Northwest to Northwest. At its peak, which will be throughout the day on Monday, the wind will reach Force 8 to 9, with more violent gusts across more exposed areas.
The sea will be very rough with wave heights of up to 6.0 metres, with the stretch of coast highlighted in red on the below map being directly exposed to this.
The wind will decrease late in the evening on Monday and will become Force 6 to 7 throughout the day on Tuesday (Christmas Eve). It will decrease again in the very early hours of Christmas Day to become Force 4 to 5 by dawn.
Maltese Islands Weather issues weather warnings, which warn of imminent severe weather. Warnings are normally issued 12 to 24 hours before the onset of severe weather. Severe weather includes:
- Strong winds: Force 7 or stronger
- Heavy swell: Swells of 2.5 meters or higher
- Heavy rainfall: A day with a national average of at least 25 mm of rain
- Severe thunderstorms: When there is a risk of at least one of the following: wind gusts of at least Force 8, hailstones with a diameter of at least 2 centimeters or waterspouts and/or tornadoes
- Heatwaves: A run of at least 3 consecutive days with a maximum temperature 5°C above the average maximum in June, July, August or September
Our warnings are designed to inform the general public of any hazardous weather that may be in store and what impacts that particular weather may have. Maltese Islands Weather operates on a 24/7 basis and so warnings may be issued at any time, day or night.