End of Month Reports

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

May 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Colder and Wetter in May 2023

May 2023 maintained its cool, with the overall mean temperature being a full degree colder than the climate norm. The mean maximum temperature over the course of last month was a staggering 2.0°C below the mean. In fact, the mean maximum temperature of 23.9°C was reached or exceeded on only 6 days out of the 31 in May. Mean minimum temperatures, on the other hand, were more conforming with the value for a typical May. They exceeded the mean by a fraction of a degree. Unseasonal anticyclones persisted over the British Isles and Scandinavia throughout the month, deflecting zones of instability towards our region of the Mediterranean. This instability brought with it frequent blasts of colder air from the north, allowing temperatures to remain colder than average throughout, especially during daylight hours.

The total rainfall measured at our weather station in Għarb stood at 23.6 mm, or more than double the mean for this time of year. The number of days with rain and thunderstorms at our weather station, at 6 and 4 respectively, were also greater than the norm. Rain was also recorded in other localities on an additional 6 days, raising the total number of days with at least one shower somewhere around the Maltese Islands to 12. This observation is also the result of prevailing anticyclones over northern Europe.

A number of windy days dotted May. Winds were significantly stronger than the average for May. The wind reached Force 6 or higher on 11 days. This was a consequence of frequent low pressure systems of north African origin. The wind blew mainly from the Southeast quadrant on the blustery days. In fact, the number of days characterized by airborne fine desert sand throughout the month were numerous. The strongest wind gust, registered on the 19^th, was of ‘only’ 48.3 km/h.

An impressive 7 low pressure systems traversed the central Mediterranean over the course of May 2023. This is reflected in the mean atmospheric pressure reading of 1012.8hPa. This value is just over 3hPa below the historical mean. The reading dropped to below 1000hPa on two separate occasions. The lowest, on the 20^th, was registered at 998.1hPa.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in May 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 23.6 mm (570.8 mm)

Victoria: 18.1 mm (501.6 mm)

Xewkija: 19.0 mm (496.8 mm)

Nadur: 29.2 mm (497.3 mm)

Marsalforn: 29.5 mm (494.7 mm)

Mellieħa: 27.8 mm (524.2 mm)

Buġibba: 24.2 mm (469.9 mm)

Mġarr: 24.6 mm (546.8 mm)

Naxxar: 20.8 mm (505.6 mm)

Mosta: 22.3 mm (605.6 mm)

Dingli: 24.0 mm (531.7 mm)

Msida: 17.3 mm (701.0 mm)

Valletta: 28.3 mm (527.1 mm)

Imqabba: 21.7 mm (582.4 mm)

Żabbar: 19.6 mm (581.0 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 17.4 mm (482.9 mm)

Sliema: 26.9 (647.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 23.2 mm (555.1 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

April 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Colder and Wetter in April 2023

Stormy weather ushered in April, the second month of meteorological spring. The 2^nd day of the month accounted for the highest value of precipitation in a day. A period of steady rainfall produced 15.8 mm of rainfall on the day. Another two days of rain followed that same week, with the 5^th also being the only day of the month with thunder. There was only one day with rain in the rest of the month. Despite the number of rainy days being less than the norm, the total rainfall measured over the course of April 2023 stood at 29.1 mm, 75% more than what one would normally anticipate.

It was also a colder than average month. The mean temperature of 15.7°C was 0.7°C cooler than the climate norm. The difference from the mean was by far more prominent in the mean maximum temperatures. The mean maximum temperature of 18.7°C was just over a degree cooler. Much of April kept locals guessing when the first taste of spring would be felt. In fact, the minimum temperature in the early hours of the 7^th dipped to a chilly 6.7°C. The final week and a half of the month brought with it some noticeably warmer temperatures, however, with the 20^th accounting for April 2023’s warmest maximum temperature of 22.5°C.

No gale events were recorded last month. The highest wind gust registered at 52km/h (Force 7) from a north-westerly direction. This was after the passage of a cold front on the 3^rd. The wind reached Force 6 on only three other occasions in the following three weeks, culminating in a significantly calm month overall.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in April 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 29.1 mm (547.2 mm)

Victoria: 24.7 mm (483.5 mm)

Xewkija: 25.6 mm (478.4 mm)

Nadur: 23.1 mm (470.1 mm)

Marsalforn: 20.9 mm (494.7 mm)

Mellieħa: 24.4 mm (442.1 mm)

Buġibba: 23.4 mm (522.4 mm)

Mġarr: 33.2 mm (481.0 mm)

Naxxar: 27.7 mm (616.7 mm)

Mosta: 29.4 mm (591.8 mm)

Dingli: 31.9 mm (507.7 mm)

Msida: 24.4 mm (683.7 mm)

Valletta: 17.2 mm (498.8 mm)

Imqabba: 30.0 mm (560.7 mm)

Żabbar: 23.3 mm (561.4 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 24.3 mm (465.5 mm)

Sliema: 24.8 (647.4 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 25.7 mm (532.4 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

March 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

Warmer and Drier in March 2023

The warmer and drier than average weather that characterized March 2023 gave the Maltese Islands a taste of spring.

The mean air temperature of 14.4°C surpassed the climate norm by 0.4°C. With a maximum temperature of 20.2°C, the 26^th registered last month’s warmest day. Despite temperatures registering an overall warmer than average trend, some nights were considerably chilly. The coldest night, that of the 18^th, registered a minimum temperature of 5.9°C.

March 2023 lacked rainfall. The 11.6 mm of precipitation measured last month amounted for just over a quarter of the climate norm of 41.0 mm. The national mean stood at a poorer 5.4 mm. The rain fell over two days, the 2^nd and the 3^rd. One of them was a brief intense thundery shower with hail. A series of showers were observed across the Maltese Islands in the opening five days of the month. A trace of dusty rain was also reported around the 20^th.

March 2023 wasn’t a particularly windy month. The highest wind gust of 56.3 km/h from a West Northwesterly direction was registered on the 15^th. At least three other windy days were noted.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in March 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 11.6 mm (518.1 mm)

Victoria: 8.2 mm (458.8 mm)

Xewkija: 8.4 mm (452.8 mm)

Nadur: 8.8 mm (447.0 mm)

Marsalforn: 6.4 mm (473.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 3.6 mm (417.7 mm)

Buġibba: 4.3 mm (499.0 mm)

Mġarr: 4.4 mm (447.8 mm)

Naxxar: 5.1 mm (589.0 mm)

Mosta: 6.1 mm (562.4 mm)

Dingli: 5.2 mm (475.8 mm)

Msida: 4.3 mm (659.3 mm)

Valletta: 3.5 mm (481.6 mm)

Imqabba: 1.8 mm (530.7 mm)

Żabbar: 2.8 mm (538.1 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 3.2 mm (441.2 mm)

Sliema: 4.7 (622.6 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 5.4 mm (506.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

 Wind

 Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

February 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

An Eventful FEBRUARY 2023

The third and final month of the 2022/2023 meteorological winter proved to be a very eventful one.

149.4 mm of rain were measured over the course of last February. 95% of this were measured in a staggering 35 hours of incessant rainfall from later in the afternoon on the 8^th through to the predawn hours of the 10^th. The 9^th will be remembered for being the wettest February day on record. This was produced by Storm Helios, an intense Mediterranean cyclone which developed over the central Mediterranean. These 35 hours of intense rainfall also accounted for the two days of thunder and one day of hail recorded last month. The rest of the month was relatively stable.

February 2023 was colder than average overall. Whilst the mean maximum temperature of 15.4°C was only marginally below the climate norm, the mean minimum temperature of 8.7°C was a full degree colder than normal. February’s mean temperature of 12.0°C was 0.7°C lower than the typical value for the time of year. Most nights were colder than average. This could be due to the anticyclonic conditions that maintained clear skies and calm winds overnight, allowing for the cooling of the air. The mercury dipped to its coldest point in the early hours of the 16^th, when a chilly 5.1°C was measured. The only exception to the fresh conditions that dominated much of February was the month’s closing week. A current of warm, humid air off the Sahara Desert, formed by the passage of a zone of low pressure across our area. The final day of February 2023 was to be the month’s warmest. The temperature on the 28^th shot up to 20°C.

Rounding off the month with a mean of 1022.8hPa, atmospheric pressure was significantly higher than norm. This had a profound impact on the sea-level around the Maltese Islands. The atmospheric pressure shot up from 1005.7hPa (stormy weather) on Friday 10th February to 1032.7hPa (fine weather) on Saturday 11th February. It remained at consistently high levels for a number of days, with the highest values peaking at 1034hPa on the 14^th. This spike in atmospheric pressure increased the force the air exerted on the sea. On average, a column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimeter squared, measured from the sea level to the top of the Earth’s atmosphere, has a mass of approximately 1 kilogram. A 1hPa increase in atmospheric pressure on a regional level temporarily lowers the sea-level by approximately 1 centimeter. When this phenomenon happens on a regional the fall in sea-level is significant. In fact, the temporary fall in sea-level last month was one of the most drastic in recent years.

In the morning of the 23^rd, people across the Maltese Islands woke up to widespread fog. This persisted for a long while and caused some delays to flights at the airport. That morning’s fog, termed radiation fog in meteorology, was a product of the great stability the Maltese Islands were experiencing at that point. Radiation fog is formed by the cooling of land after sunset by infrared thermal radiation in calm conditions with a clear sky. The cooling ground cools adjacent air by conduction, causing the air temperature to fall and reach the dew point (the temperature at which an air mass becomes saturated and the water vapor in it condenses), forming fog. Radiation fog occurs at night, and often does not last long after sunrise. That morning’s fog was denser and more persistent than usual for one reason. The land was still wet from the abundant precipitation received from Storm Helios earlier on in February. The moisture available for the formation of fog was far more plentiful than in a typical year.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in February 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 149.4 mm (506.5 mm)

Victoria: 142.2 mm (450.6 mm)

Xewkija: 126.0 mm (444.4 mm)

Nadur: 139.6 mm (438.2 mm)

Marsalforn: 143.9 mm (467.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 134.7 mm (414.1 mm)

Buġibba: 153.2 mm (494.7 mm)

Mġarr: 129.5 mm (443.4 mm)

Naxxar: 179.0 mm (583.9 mm)

Mosta: 170.1 mm (556.3 mm)

Dingli: 145.2 mm (470.6 mm)

Msida: 202.6 mm (655.0 mm)

Valletta: 133.8 mm (478.1 mm)

Imqabba: 172.2 mm (528.9 mm)

Żabbar: 172.5 mm (535.3 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 151.7 mm (438.0 mm)

Sliema: 167.9 mm (617.9 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 153.7 mm (501.3 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

January 2023 Compared to the Climate Means

The Two Faces of January 2023

The New Year started off with bright sunshine, warm temperatures and calm winds. This was the product of a persistent anticyclone that had covered the central Mediterranean since the start of meteorological winter. The anticyclone started fading away slowly, with the second week of January 2023 registering the first gale of the year. An abrupt cold snap bringing typical wintry weather started overnight on the 19^th and lasted till the end of the month. This was the result of deep low pressure extending from mainland Europe towards the Mediterranean. It brought colder temperatures and eleven consecutive days with at least one shower being recorded at some point during the day.

Overall, where temperature is concerned, January 2023 turned out to be marginally warmer than average. Last month’s mean temperature of 13.1°C was just under half a degree above the climate norm. An episode of wintry temperatures in the final ten days of the month was not enough to tip the balance in favour of a colder than average trend. The rest of the month was marked by consistently warmer than average temperatures. The maximum temperature for last month was of 19.3°C, measured on both the 2^nd and 3^rd. In the early hours of the 24^th, after a calm, clear and frosty night, the mercury dipped to last month’s coldest point of 4.9°C.

Around half of all days in January 2023 were characterized by showers. The rumbling thunder was heard on a staggering nine days. Hail was registered on six days. This wasn’t enough to produce the amount of rainfall expected in a typical January. In fact, the month’s total of 58.4 mm fell a third short of the climate norm. Although the average for January was not reached, the countryside still got a much-needed boost. For this boost to be enhanced, February needs to give us more of this precious rainfall. The last February to give us more rainfall that average was way back in 2018.

The highest wind gust recorded last month reached 67.6 km/h during a Mistral gale. This was also the first gale of 2023.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in January 2023 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 58.4 mm (357.1 mm)

Victoria: 49.9 mm (308.4 mm)

Xewkija: 47.6 mm (318.4 mm)

Nadur: 51.6 mm (298.6 mm)

Marsalforn: 47.6 mm (323.5 mm)

Mellieħa: 45.6 mm (279.4 mm)

Buġibba: 64.2 mm (341.5 mm)

Mġarr: 71.0 mm (313.9 mm)

Naxxar: 92.5 mm (404.9 mm)

Mosta: 80.2 mm (386.2 mm)

Dingli: 70.6 mm (325.4 mm)

Msida: 89.4 mm (452.4 mm)

Valletta: 76.1 mm (344.3 mm)

Imqabba: 66.7 mm (356.7 mm)

Żabbar: 75.0 mm (362.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 75.7 mm (286.3 mm)

Sliema: 91.5 mm (450.0 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 67.9 mm (347.6 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

December 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

Record-Breaking DECEMBER 2022

December 2022, the first month of meterological winter and the last month of 2022 shattered long-standing meteorological records.

With a mean temperature of 16.2°C, December 2022 will go down in the record books as the warmest on record. It broke a decades-old record set in the 1960s by a fraction of a degree. Not a single day last month registered maximum temperatures at or below the climate norm of 17.1°C. With a maximum temperature of 22.6°C, the 15^th was the warmest day last month. The ‘coolest’ was the 31^st with a mild 17.2°C daytime high. Nights were significantly warmer than average too. The mean minimum temperature of 13.2°C exceeded the norm for the time of year by 1.4°C. The minimum temperature dipped to below 10°C on just five nights. Winter is yet to make its prescence felt.

More records were broken where precipitation is concerned. The paltry 7.0 mm measured by our weather station were just a tiny fraction of the 109.7 mm one would normally expect in December. December is statistically the wettest month of the year locally, but in 2022, even August would turn out to have produced more precipitation. December 2022 broke an almost century-old record set in the 1920s to become the driest December yet. If matters were not dire enough, 2.7 mm of this months total came in the form of mist or fog patches and heavy dewfall. Dewfall was heavy enough to measure on a staggering eight days.

The atmosphere above the central Mediterranean and surrounding regions was very stable. This was due to an extensive anticyclone that became stagnant. As one would expect under these conditions, the mean wind speed last month was much lighter than normal. December is renowned for its northwesterly gales. The highest wind speed in December 2022 clocked in at 45.1 km/h, or a mere strong breeze on the Beaufort Scale. The wind blew predominantly from the southerly quadrant.

Another phenomenon worth mentioning from the final month of 2022 was its incredibly high levels of humidity. The mean humidity last month was a damp 85.4%. Levels of humdity failed to drop below the 80% mark on almost half of all days last month.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in December 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 7.0 mm (298.7 mm)

Victoria: 8.7 mm (258.5 mm)

Xewkija: 4.2 mm (270.8 mm)

Nadur: 7.4 mm (247.0 mm)

Marsalforn: 2.3 mm (275.9 mm)

Mellieħa: 10.6 mm (233.8 mm)

Buġibba: 7.5 mm (277.3 mm)

Mġarr: 4.9 mm (242.9 mm)

Naxxar: 8.6 mm (312.4 mm)

Mosta: 4.3 mm (306.0 mm)

Dingli: 4.9 mm (254.8 mm)

Msida: 4.3 mm (363.0 mm)

Valletta: 5.7 mm (268.2 mm)

Imqabba: 6.4 mm (290.0 mm)

Żabbar: 3.6 mm (287.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 9.7 mm (210.6 mm)

Sliema: 5.3 mm (358.5 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 6.2 mm (279.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

November 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

Rain Poured Down in NOVEMBER 2022

The third and last month of meteorological autumn registered almost double the amount in a typical November. A plentiful 176.8 mm were measured by our weather station. Rain fell on a staggering 14 days last month, with the vast majority of these occurring in the second half of the month. Much of last month’s rain was produced by heavy showers which were often accompanied by hail and thunder. 6 of last November’s rainy days also recorded precipitation in hail form. Thunder was heard on 7 days. Out of November’s 14 rainy days, the wettest was the 29^th, when 23.5 mm of rainfall were measured in 24 hours. Localities in central Malta were far wetter on that day. Msida and Sliema tallied 93.5 mm and 88.1 mm of rain respectively on that day. This caused intense flooding in the usual low-lying areas. Last month also produced one notable severe rainfall event. This was a severe thunderstorm on the 26^th. Hailstones of 2 centimetres diameter were confirmed in Ħ’Attard. Damaging wind gusts were also recorded by weather station in neighboring localities. Rainfall totals in the region of 45 mm were also measured in nearby localities.

November 2022 was also warmer than average. The mean temperature of 18.1°C was almost half a degree warmer than the climate norm for this time of year. All days from the 1^st till the 19^th were marked by significantly warmer than average daytime temperatures. With a 24.4°C maximum temperature, the 4^th was the warmest day last month. The temperature had not cooled down much in the previous night. In fact, that day’s minimum temperature of 20.4°C was a staggering 5.9°C warmer than the climate mean. The meteorological situation cooled down noticeably for the final week of the month, however, as an incursion of colder air from northern Europe engulfed the central Mediterranean.

There were three outbreaks of strong wind last month. The one on the 27^th left the biggest impact by far. A severe Gregale that lasted for much of that Sunday caused havoc along the exposed areas of coast. It also disrupted ferry services between the two islands. The highest wind gust recorded at our weather station was of 64.4 km/h (Force 8). An even stronger wind gusts of 96 km/h (Force 10) was measured in more exposed areas.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in November 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 176.8 mm (291.7 mm)

Victoria: 157.0 mm (249.8 mm)

Xewkija: 171.6 mm (266.6 mm)

Nadur: 139.9 mm (239.6 mm)

Marsalforn: 159.6 mm (273.6 mm)

Mellieħa: 166.3 mm (223.2 mm)

Buġibba: 185.2 mm (269.8 mm)

Mġarr: 171.4 mm (238.0 mm)

Naxxar: 219.3 mm (303.8 mm)

Mosta: 218.7 mm (301.7 mm)

Dingli: 150.0 mm (249.9 mm)

Msida: 259.3 mm (358.7 mm)

Valletta: 192.6 mm (262.5 mm)

Imqabba: 178.1 mm (283.6 mm)

Żabbar: 183.3 mm (284.2 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 124.9 mm (200.9 mm)

Sliema: 267.9 mm (353.2 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 183.6 mm (273.5 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

October 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

DRY, WARM and CALM in OCTOBER 2022

With its many days of uninterrupted bright sunshine, continuous days with light and variable winds, and generally warm maximum temperatures, October 2022 didn’t feel like autumn at all.

The month was warmer than the climate norm overall. The mean maximum temperature of 25.3°C surpassed the average by half a degree. Mean minimum temperatures conformed with the climatic norm of 17.9°C. With a maximum temperature of 28.4°C, the 27^th was October 2022’s warmest day. The mercury hovered close to the 30°C in certain localities on that day. The coolest day of the month was to be registered a mere 48 hours later, however, with the maximum temperature on the 29^th rising to 23°C. Weather during the second half of October was shaped by an anticyclone that spanned much of the Mediterranean region. Anticyclonic conditions promote clear and calm conditions. This allows heat to be lost from the surface of the Earth to space by radiation, allowing temperatures to fall steady overnight. Temperatures typically reach the minimum just before dawn, after a night of cooling. Since cold air sinks, and due to the moderating effect of the sea, the coldest spots are inland low-lying plains and valleys. The freshest night was that of the 22^nd, with a minimum temperature of 14.4°C.

October 2022 was also much drier than usual. The 27.7 mm of precipitation measured by the rain gauage at our weather station fell 55.6 mm short of the rainfall expected over the course of a typical October. To aggravate matters, this precipitation was produced by a single heavy thunderstorm at around lunchtime on the 10^th. This rainfall event was to be the sole rain day last month. The thunderstorm on the 10^th also accounted for the highest wind gust measured last month. This clocked in at 46.7km/h from a Northerly direction.

October 2022 will also be remembered for its unprecedented episodes of calm. Wind in the Maltese Islands is very common because it is an island in the middle of the mid-latitude depressions’ path and in a band of pressure difference. On average, 92% of all days experience winds of at least Force 2. This means that only 25 days a year are windless. For a total of 15 consecutive days, from the 16^th through to the 30^th (both days included), the wind speed averaged 1.7km/h (Force 1). No wind gusts were reported for days on end, with the highest wind speed registered then being of only 17.7km/h (Force 3). Strong wind events were largely absent. The wind direction varied widely, with the East Northeast direction coming out on top in the end.

Not surprisingly, the value for mean atmospheric pressure exceeded the October norm by a fair amount. The 1022.0hPa value was not only 4.6hPa more stable than normal, but also one of the highest for any October.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in October 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 27.7 mm (114.9 mm)

Victoria: 18.9 mm (92.8 mm)

Xewkija: 19.0 mm (95.0 mm)

Nadur: 14.7 mm (99.7 mm)

Marsalforn: 33.5 mm (114.0 mm)

Mellieħa: 18.0 mm (56.9 mm)

Buġibba: 19.3 mm (84.6 mm)

Mġarr: 15.8 mm (66.6 mm)

Naxxar: 18.5 mm (84.5 mm)

Mosta: 18.3 mm (83.0 mm)

Dingli: 17.3 mm (99.9 mm)

Msida: 24.6 mm (99.4 mm)

Valletta: 19.3 mm (69.9 mm)

Imqabba: 18.8 mm (105.5 mm)

Żabbar: 22.1 mm (100.9 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 16.6 mm (76.0 mm)

Sliema: 19.5 mm (85.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 20.1 mm (89.9 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

September 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

WARMER and WETTER in SEPTEMBER 2022

The first month of meteorological autumn was marked by significantly warmer than average temperatures. The mean maximum temperature of 28.8°C and the minimum temperature of 22.8°C exceeded the climate norm by 0.5°C and 2.0°C respectively. The first twenty days were all warmer than average. Temperatures cooled down to average or below average upon the arrival of a colder air mass from northern Europe on the 21^st. September 2022 maintained the warmer than average trend started in late spring. Despite this, no extremes were registered last month.

September 2022 produced 87.2 mm of precipitation at our weather station in Għarb. That is significantly more than what one would expect in a typical September. September is normally a hit-or-miss month for rain-bearing systems around the central Mediterranean. In fact, 92% of last month’s total precipitation fell within 24 hours, from late morning on the 22^nd till late morning on the 23^rd. There were an additional two days of rain, with both registering a brief but intense shower. No severe phenomena were observed in September 2022.

The final ten days of the month were noticeably more unsettled, with most days featuring a cloudier sky, breezier conditions and cooler temperatures.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in September 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 87.2 mm (87.2 mm)

Victoria: 73.9 mm (73.9 mm)

Xewkija: 73.4 mm (73.4 mm)

Nadur: 85.0 mm (85.0 mm)

Marsalforn: 80.5 mm (80.5 mm)

Mellieħa: 38.9 mm (38.9 mm)

Buġibba: 65.5 mm (65.5 mm)

Mġarr: 50.8 mm (50.8 mm)

Naxxar: 66.0 mm (66.0 mm)

Mosta: 64.7 mm (64.7 mm)

Dingli: 82.6 mm (82.6 mm)

Msida: 74.8 mm (74.8 mm)

Valletta: 50.6 mm (50.6 mm)

Imqabba: 86.7 mm (86.7 mm)

Żabbar: 78.8 mm (78.8 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 59.4 mm (59.4 mm)

Sliema: 65.8 mm (65.8 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 69.9 mm

Air Temperature

 Relative Humidity

 Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

 Rainfall Events

August 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

HOTTER but WETTER in AUGUST 2022

The third and final month of the meteorological summer completed a whole season of hotter than average temperatures. The mean maximum temperature of 31.4°C conformed with the climate norm. The mean minimum temperature of 23.9°C exceeded the norm by a staggering 1.2°C. Overall, August 2022’s mean temperature of 27.6°C was half a degree warmer than the climate average for a typical August. This anomaly in minimum temperatures could be directly attributed to a very warm central Mediterranean Sea (with a sea surface temperature of 28°C to 29°C). A very warm sea inhibits nighttime cooling of air across land areas. Despite maximum temperatures being around the norm for the time of year, elevated levels of relative humidity made for some very uncomfortable days. Relative humidity averaged 76.6% overall, with the level failing to drop below 50% on most days. The heat index exceeded 40°C on a number of days. The heat index is what the air temperature actually feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature in the shade. A number of rain showers drenched zones of the Maltese Islands around the 10^th and 11^th. Much of the rain that fell in these showers evporated from the soil and vegetation in the following days, causing levels of relative humidity to spike. Last month also accounted for the hottest day and night recorded at our weather station over the course of this year’s meteorological summer. The mercury hit a sweltering 38.3°C on the 17^th. It dipped to only 28.0°C the following night.

August 2022 was a very interesting month with regards to precipitation. Despite the intense heat that dominated much of last month, it was a rather unstable month. Towering cumulus clouds featured on the vast majority of days. The air closer to the surface was hot and humid. Simultaneously, cold air was present in the upper levels of the atmosphere. On sunlit days, the hot and humid air is forced to rise. Upon reaching the colder air aloft, moisture within the air mass condenses to form dense clouds. These clouds start forming in the late morning and dissipate by the late afternoon, peaking in the mid-afternoon. These clouds generated some intense thunderstorms from 10^th to 12^th August. Various localities around the Maltese Islands experienced showers. A handful of localities were drenched by intense downpours. Localities to the south of Malta remained largely dry. Total precipitation tallied at a national average of 22.2 mm. A few localities received in excess of two inches (or 50 mm) of precipitation.

Rainfall Totals around the Maltese Islands in August 2022 (and since last September 1st):

Għarb: 9.7 mm (586.0 mm)

Victoria: 18.1 mm (615.3 mm)

Xewkija: 11.4 mm (562.6 mm)

Nadur: 7.4 mm (626.8 mm)

Marsalforn: 3.6 mm (629.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 44.2 mm (587.8 mm)

Buġibba: 31.8 mm (651.7 mm)

Mġarr: 52.3 mm (644.1 mm)

Naxxar: 56.4 mm (688.1 mm)

Mosta: 61.7 mm (605.5 mm)

Dingli: 2.0 mm (497.1 mm)

Msida: 33.3 mm (627.7 mm)

Valletta: 13.6 mm (384.6 mm)

Imqabba: 12.4 mm (592.8 mm)

Żabbar: 12.0 mm (607.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.8 mm (432.6 mm)

Sliema: 16.8 mm (594.9mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 22.8 mm (584.8 mm)