Reports

May 13, 20190

Chance of isolated thunderstorm / Ċans ta’ maltempata bir-ragħad iżolata

A rapidly disentegrating low pressure system will reach the central Mediterranean from over southern Italy. With it is an occluded front. This will be influencing the weather in the Maltese Islands from late on Monday 13/05 till around noon on Tuesday 14/05. Occluded fronts are associated with mature low pressure areas. There are two types of occlusion; warm and cold. In our case, it will be a cold occlusion. In a cold occlusion, an advancing mass of cold air will have caused a mass of warm air to rise completely and be cut-off from the Earth’s surface. When this happens, the warm air is cut-off from surface-based sources of moisture. A variety of weather can be found along occluded fronts, with thunderstorms being a possibility. Their passage is normally associated with the drying of the air mass, and thus, a minimal amount of rainfall.

A few isolated possibly briefly heavy, thundery and with hail at times may affect parts of the Maltese Islands overnight and in the morning of Tuesday 14/05. Total rainfall is will likely be less than 10 mm, even in the hardest hit areas. Temperatures may dip to below 13 C in areas affected by hail. Real-feels may fall below 10 C. The meteorological situation will improve in the afternoon on Tuesday 14/05, albeit with a Force 4/5 wind from the West Northwest.

Sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa li kull ma jmur qed tiddgħajjef se tilħaq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran minn fuq l-Italja ta’ isfel. Abbinat magħha se jkun hemm front ta’ okklużjoni. Dan se jkun qed jinfluwenza t-temp tal-Gżejjer Maltin minn tard it-Tnejn 13/05 sa madwar nofsinhar tat-Tlieta 14/05. Front ta’ okklużjoni huwa normalment assoċjat ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa matura. Hemm żewġ tipi ta’ front ta’ okklużjoni; kiesaħ u sħun. Fil kas tagħna, se jkun wieħed kiesaħ. Fi front ta’ okklużjoni kiesaħ, massa ta’ arja kiesħa tkun imbuttat massa ta’ arja sħun il-fuq, b’ tali mod li din ta’ l-aħħar tinqata mill-art kumpletament. Meta jiġri dan, l-arja sħuna tinqata minn mas-sors ta’ ilma kumpletament , u b’hekk tibda titlef l-ilma. Front ta’ okklużjoni huwa assoċjat ma’ varjeta ta’ temp, b’maltempati bir-ragħad tkun waħda mill-possibilitajiet. Peress li front ta’ okklużjoni ikun qed jitlef mill-ilma, kapaċi jipproduċu biss xita f’ammonti żgħar.

Xi ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita possibilment qawwijin, bir-ragħad u silġ għal ftit ħin kultant jistgħu jaffetwaw lil Gżejjer Maltin billejl u filgħodu tat-Tlieta 14/05. It-total ta’ xita probabli mhux se jaqbeż l-10 mm, anke fl-aktar inħawi milquta. It-temperaturi jistgħu jinżlu taħt 13 C fl-inħawi milquta mis-silġ. It-temperatura tkun tinħass daqs li kieku 10 C. Is-sitwazzjoni metejoroloġika se taqleb għal aħjar wara nofsinhar tat-Tlieta 14/05, għalkemm b’riħ Forza 4/5 mill-Punent Majjistru.

Reports

May 11, 20190

Wet and windy for Mothers’ Day / Imxarrab u mirjieħ għal Jum l-Omm

A cold front associated with a low pressure system over central Italy will be traversing the central Mediterranean on Sunday 12/05. This year’s Mothers’ Day promises to be a wet and windy one. The main influence of this cold front will be a plunge in air temperature. From a 26 C high on Saturday 11/05, it will struggle to reach 21 C on Sunday 12/05. The minimum temperature will dip to 14 C. That is 3 C lower than the average for this time of year. The crossing of this cold front will also mean a strong wind from the West Northwest to Northwest for the Maltese Islands. It will reach Force 5/6 from around noon on Sunday 12/05 onward. Finally, there is also the chance for some isolated showers. Rain will be possible at any time during the day, with the greatest chance being in the morning and early afternoon. It will be mainly light, but could become briefly heavy and thundery from time to time. Monday 13/05 will see similar weather conditions. It will then become mainly sunny, but remain rather windy, from Tuesday 14/05 onward, as the Maltese Islands face an unstable week.

Front kiesaħ assoċjat ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran mistenni lgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran nhar il-Ħadd 12/05. Jum l-Omm jaf ikun wieħed imxarrab u mirjieħ. L-effetti prinċipali ta’ dan il-front kiesaħ hija temperaturi ferm aktar kesħin. Minn l-ogħla ta’ 26 C nhar is-Sibt 11/05, it-temperatura se tbati biex tilħaq 21 C il-Ħadd 12/05. L-anqas temperatura se tkun ta’ 14 C. Dan huwa 3 C anqas mill-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. Dan il-front kiesaħ se jfisser ukoll riħ qawwi mill-Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral għal-Gżejjer Maltin. Dan se jilħaq Forza5/6 minn madwar nofsinhar tal-Ħadd 12/05 ‘il quddiem. Fl-aħħar nett, se jkun hemm iċ-ċans ta’ ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita. Ix-xita se tkun possibli f’kwalunkwe ħin , biċ-ċans ikun l-ogħla filgħodu u kmieni wara nofsinhar. Din se tkun fil-maġġor parti ħafifa, imma taf issir qawwija u bir-ragħad minn ħin għal ieħor. It-Tnejn 13/05 mistenni jkun ikkaratteriżżat minn temp simili. Minn nhar it-Tlieta 14/05 ‘il quddiem, it-temp se jsir il-biċċa l-kbira xemxi, imma jibqa ferm mirjieħ, hekk kif il-Gżejjer Malti qed jiffaċjaw ġimgħa ta’ temp instabbli.

End of Month Reports

May 1, 20190

Cooler and Drier in April 2019

Air Temperature

Highest Maximum	27°C	23^rd
Lowest Maximum	15°C	1^st and 2^nd
Highest Minimum	16°C	25^th
Lowest Minimum	10°C	1^st and 8^th

Mean Maximum	17.0°C
Mean Minimum	11.8°C
Mean	13.9°C

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity	78%	6^th
Lowest Relative Humidity	24%	23^rd

Mean Relative Humidity

72.0% ed-hrvatski.com

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure	1024.1hPa	19^th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure	1013.2hPa	21^st

Mean Atmospheric Pressure

1019.3hPa

Wind

Highest Gust

68km/h

19^th

Mean Wind Speed	12km/h
Mean Gust Speed	31km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed	21.5km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Southeast

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During April 2019	27.5 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	482.6 mm

Highest 24 Hour Total

19.1 mm

5^th

Rain Days	5
Thunderstorm Days	0
Hail Days	2

Rainfall Events

04/04/2019	1.8 mm	Light Rain
05/04/2019	19.1 mm	Thunderstorm
07/04/2019	4.3 mm	Isolated Showers
14/04/2019	2.0 mm	Isolated Showers
22/04/2019	0.3 mm	Thunderstorm

April 2019 Compared to the Climate Means

	Climate Mean	April 2019	Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature	19.6°C	17.0°C	-2.6°C
Mean Minimum Temperature	12.5°C	11.8°C	-0.7°C
Mean Temperature	16.2°C	13.9°C	-2.3°C
Mean Relative Humidity	77%	72%	-5%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure	1014.3hPa	1019.3hPa	+5.0hPa
Mean Wind Speed	18.9 km/h	21.3km/h	+2.4km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Northwest	Southeast	135°
Total Rainfall	23.2 mm	27.5 mm	+4.3 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	561.7 mm	474.2 mm	-87.5 mm
Total Rain Days	6	5	-1
Total Thunderstorm Days	1	2	+1
Total Hail Days	1	0	0

Cooler and Drier in April 2019

The air was significantly cooler than average over much of last month. Overall, air temperatures were 2.3°C colder than normal. The biggest difference from the average was registered by the daytime temperature (2.6°C cooler than usual). Nights were not as cold (0.7°C cooler than the norm). This could attributed to the fact that April was characterised by several days of overcast skies and airborne fine desert sand. In this case, light from the Sun would be reflected off the clouds and airborne fine desert sand back into space, preventing the air at ground level from heating up. Finally, temperatures returned to normal in the final week of April. The hottest day was the 23rd with a 27°C high. Conversely, the coldest was at 10°C on the 1st and 8th.

Total rainfall measured at our weather station in Għarb, at 27.5 mm was below the mean for this time of year. April started off promisingly with regards to precipitation. 25.2 mm (or 91%) of April’s rainfall total fell in the first week of the month. The rest fell in light showers which deposited copious amounts of fine desert sand.

A number of windy days dotted the month of April. Winds were significantly stronger than the average for April. The wind reached Force 6 or stronger on 10 days. This is the Maltese Islands were caught up between high and low pressure systems several times. The strongest gust was of 68 km/h, registered on the 19th. The prevailing wind direction was from the Southeast. This was the result of successive north African low pressure systems passing by us.

End of Month Reports

April 1, 20190

Cooler Days but Warmer Nights in March 2019

Air Temperature

Highest Maximum	22°C	8^th, 9^th and 18^th
Lowest Maximum	14°C	12^th and 27^th
Highest Minimum	14°C	20^th
Lowest Minimum	10°C	4^th, 21^st, 27^th and 28^th

Mean Maximum	17.0°C
Mean Minimum	11.8°C
Mean	13.9°C

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity	75%	6^th
Lowest Relative Humidity	28%	8^th

Mean Relative Humidity

64.0%

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure	1028.1hPa	10^th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure	1013.2hPa	21^st

Mean Atmospheric Pressure

1019.3hPa

Wind

Highest Gust

85.0km/h

12^th

Mean Wind Speed	12.6km/h
Mean Gust Speed	29.9km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed	21.3km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Northwest

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During March 2019	56.8 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	455.1 mm

Highest 24 Hour Total

27.4 mm

21^st

Rain Days	6
Thunderstorm Days	1
Hail Days	1

Rainfall Events

02/03/2019 polska-ed.com	0.5 mm	Isolated Shower
06/03/2019	0.5 mm	Fog and Dew
10/03/2019	0.3 mm	Fog and Dew
12/03/2019	0.3 mm	Isolated Shower
15/03/2019	2.0 mm	Light Rain
18/03/2019	0.3 mm	Fog and Dew
21/03/2019	27.4 mm	Thunderstorm
22/03/2019	2.5 mm	Light Rain
24/03/2019	0.3 mm	Fog and Dew
27/03/2019	22.7 mm	Steady Rain

March 2019 Compared to the Climate Means

	Climate Mean	March 2019	Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature	17.3°C	17.0°C	-0.3°C
Mean Minimum Temperature	10.7°C	11.8°C	+1.1°C
Mean Temperature	14.0°C	14.4°C	+0.4°C
Mean Relative Humidity	79%	64.0%	-15.0%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure	1016.1hPa	1019.3hPa	+3.2hPa
Mean Wind Speed	18.9 km/h	21.3km/h	+2.4km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Northwest	Northwest	0°
Total Rainfall	40.7 mm	56.8 mm	+16.1 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	538.5 mm	455.1 mm	-83.4 mm
Total Rain Days	9	6	-3
Total Thunderstorm Days	2	1	-1
Total Hail Days	1	1	0

Cooler Days but Warmer Nights in March 2019

Daytime highs last month were colder than normal (by 0.3°C at 17.0°C). Conversely, nighttime lows were warmer than average (by 1.1°C at 11.8°C). Overall, March 2019 was warmer than average by 0.4°C, with a value of 14.4°C. The warmest temperature in March 2019 clocked in at 22°C and was measured on a number of days, mainly in the first half of the month. The low of the month, of 10°C, was measured on three nights towards the end of the month.

For yet another month, winds were significantly stronger than average. It reached Force 8 on six days. The strongest was recorded at 85.0 km/h (Force 9) on March 13^th. Most days were characterised by a Northwest wind. This conforms with the climate mean.

Total rainfall measured at our weather station in Għarb exceeded the norm for this time of year. With a total of 56.8 mm, March 2019 was wetter than average by 40%. 50.1 mm of this fell during two major rainfall events. These consisted of a thunderstorm on the 21^st and periods of steady rain on the 27^th. Thunder and hail affected us only during the thunderstorm on the 21^st.

Reports

March 17, 20190

Weekly Outlook (18/03/2019 to 24/03/2019)

As promised, the Maltese Islands enjoyed a weekend of uninterrupted bright sunshine. High pressure which has taken hold of the central Mediterranean will prevail till late on Monday 18/03. This means another day of gloriously warm sunshine to start off the week. This high pressure will retreat south on Tuesday 19/03, however, when an area of low pressure will develop over the central Mediterranean. This will mark the brief return of wintry weather; with rain/hail showers, strong Northeasterly winds and cooler temperatures returning to the Maltese Islands. The worst of it all is expected on Thursday 21/03, when the Northeast wind should reach Force 7/8 across exposed areas of our country. This state of affairs will prevail till Friday 22/03. High pressure will once again take hold of the central Mediterranean over the weekend, promising another weekend of bright sunshine. Air temperatures will also rise again, as southerly winds blow warm air from over north Africa towards our region. This is expected to be the third heat spell of the season.

Taking a look at the weather across the Maltese Islands over the coming week, the average maximum temperature will be around 19°C, with a high for the week peaking at 22°C expected on Monday 18/03. Meanwhile, the average minimum temperature will be 12°C, dipping to its lowest in the mornings of Saturday 23/03 and Sunday 24/03 at 11°C. This week will see some significant precipitation, with rain/hail showers expected from late on Tuesday 19/03 till early on Friday 22/03. Thursday 21/03 will be the wettest, with over 10 mm. Winds are expected to be strong to very strong from the East to East Northeast on Wednesday 20/03, Thursday 21/03 and Friday 22/03, with the strongest expected on Thursday 21/03. The rest of the days will be characterised by a light breeze from the West.

Reports

March 13, 20190

GALE-FORCE WIND WARNING / TWISSIJA TA’ RIEFNU

A cold front will move across the Maltese Islands at dawn on Thursday 14/03. Meanwhile, an area of high pressure will remain almost stationary over the western Mediterranean. This meteorological situation will be generating a gale from the West Northwest across the central Mediterranean. This gale-force wind warning is valid from 03:00 on Thursday 14/03 till 00:00 on Friday 15/03. This will be updated when necessary. The details below describe how the situation will develop over this time period.

Thursday 14/03

03:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest Force 6/7

06:00 to 09:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

09:00 to 12:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

12:00 to 15:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

15:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

18:00 to 21:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

21:00 to 00:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

Friday 15/03

00:00 to 03:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

03:00 to 06:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

06:00 to 09:00 – Northwest Force 7/8

09:00 to 12:00 – Northwest Force 7/8

12:00 to 15:00 – Northwest Force 7/8

15:00 to 18:00 – Northwest Force 7/8

18:00 to 21:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

21:00 to 00:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands during the evening of Thursday 14/03. On Saturday 16/03, the wind will decline gradually to become Force 3/4, and turn South by evening.

The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 5.0 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be a low Northwest. The map shows the area of coastline most exposed to this strong wind.

Front ta’ arja kiesħa se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran qabel sebħ il-jum nhar il-Ħamis 14/03. Sadattant, roqgħa ta’ arja bi pressjoni għolja mistennija żżomm stazzjonarja fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran. Din is-sitwazzjoni metejoroloġika se tiġġenera riefnu mill-Punent Majjistru madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din it-twissija ta’ riefnu ser tkun fis-seħħ minn 03:00 tal-Ħamis 14/03 sa 00:00 tas-Sibt 16/03. Din it-twissija se tkun aġġornata jekk ikun hemm bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn isfel jiddeskrivu kif għandha tiżviluppa s-sistema matul il-ħin imsemmi.

Il-Ħamis 14/03

03:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6/7

06:00 sa 09:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

09:00 sa 12:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

12:00 sa 15:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

15:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

18:00 sa 21:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

21:00 sa 00:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

Friday 15/03

00:00 sa 03:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

03:00 sa 06:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

06:00 sa 09:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

09:00 sa 12:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

12:00 sa 15:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

15:00 sa 18:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

18:00 sa 21:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

21:00 sa 00:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwijin mistennija jaffetwaw lil Gżejjer Maltin matul filgħaxija talĦamis 14/03. Nhar is-Sibt 16/03, ir-riħ mistenni jnaqqas bilmod biex isir Forza 3/4, u jsir Nofsinhar, sa filgħaxija.

Il-baħar se jkun qawwi ħafna b’mewġ ogħli 5.0 metri fl-aktar buffuri qawwijin. L-imbatt se jkun ħafif mill-Majjistral. Il-mappa tindika l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ.

Reports

March 10, 20190

GALE-FORCE WIND WARNING / TWISSIJA TA’ RIEFNU

A weak cold front will move across the Maltese Islands on Monday 11/03. Meanwhile, an area of high pressure will develop over the western Mediterranean. This meteorological situation will be generating a gale from the West Northwest across the central Mediterranean. This gale-force wind warning is valid from 18:00 on Monday 11/03 till 18:00 on Tuesday 12/03. This will be updated if and when necessary. The details below describe how the situation will develop over this time period.

Monday 11/03

18:00 to 21:00 – West Northwest Force 6/7

21:00 to 00:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

Tuesday 12/03

00:00 to 03:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

03:00 to 06:00 – West Northwest Force 8/9

06:00 to 09:00 – West Northwest Force 8/9

09:00 to 12:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

12:00 to 15:00 – West Northwest Force 7/8

15:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 6/7

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands during the early morning of Tuesday 12/03. The wind will then decline gradually to become Force 3/4 by morning on Wednesday 13/03.

The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 5.0 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be a low Northwest. The map shows the area of coastline most exposed to this strong wind.

Front dgħajjef ta’ arja kiesħa se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran nhar it-Tnejn 11/03. Sadattant, roqgħa ta’ arja bi pressjoni għolja se tiżviluppa fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran. Din is-sitwazzjoni metejoroloġika se tiġġenera riefnu mill-Punent Majjistru madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din it-twissija ta’ riefnu ser tkun fis-seħħ minn 18:00 tat-Tnejn 11/03 sa 18:00 tat-Tlieta 12/03. Din it-twissija se tkun aġġornata jekk ikun hemm il-bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn isfel jiddeskrivu kif għandha tiżviluppa s-sistema matul il-ħin imsemmi.

It-Tnejn 11/03

18:00 sa 21:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6/7

21:00 sa 00:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

It-Tnejn 12/02

00:00 sa 03:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

03:00 sa 06:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 8/9

06:00 sa 09:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 8/9

09:00 sa 12:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

12:00 sa 15:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 7/8

15:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 6/7

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwijin mistennija jaffetwaw lil Gżejjer Maltin matul filgħodu kmieni tat-Tlieta 12/03. Ir-riħ se jnaqqas bilmod biex isir Forza 3/4 sa filgħodu nhar l-Erbgħa 13/03.

Il-baħar se jkun qawwi ħafna b’mewġ ogħli 5.0 metri fl-aktar buffuri qawwijin. L-imbatt se jkun ħafif mill-Majjistral. Il-mappa tindika l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ.

Severe Weather Reports

March 9, 20190

Dense Fog on 09/03/2019

A warm and moist air mass passed over the central Mediterranean on Saturday 09/03. The meteorological conditions were ideal for the formation of sea fog. The sea fog formed as the warm and moist air mass from the south was advected (blown) over the cooler sea around us. This caused the air mass to cool down. Its temperature fell to the dew point (the temperature at which an air mass becomes saturated and the water vapour in it condenses) polska-ed.com. For this type of fog to form and persist, the wind must be light. The light wind allows the air mass to slide slowly over the cooler area of sea increasing the chances of saturation and condensation. Often, sea fog dissipates as it moves inland. However, given that the air on land is very similar to that of the sea around us, the sea fog prevailed and engulfed the Maltese Islands.

The most affected were coastal localities along the northwest of the Maltese Islands. Conditions are very rarely ideal for the formation of this fog locally. It is only possible in spring, when the first warm and moist air masses from the south start reaching us. These clash with the still cold sea around us. The air temperature over land dropped by 10°C as the fog shrouded the Maltese Islands.

Thanks to Andrea Muscat for the photos!

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

: Andrea Muscat

End of Month Reports

March 4, 20190

February 2019 Sets New Records

Air Temperature

Highest Maximum	19.4°C	2^nd
Lowest Maximum	10.6°C	24^th
Highest Minimum	13.2°C	2^nd
Lowest Minimum	3.9°C	23^rd

Mean Maximum	15.3°C
Mean Minimum	9.7°C
Mean	12.5°C

Relative Humidity

Highest Relative Humidity	74%	4^th, 5^th, 23^rd and 26^th
Lowest Relative Humidity	40%	23^rd

Mean Relative Humidity

60.6%

Atmospheric Pressure

Highest Atmospheric Pressure	1030hPa	15^th, 17^thand 18^th
Lowest Atmospheric Pressure	1002hPa	2^nd

Mean Atmospheric Pressure

1019.9hPa

Wind

Highest Gust

101.0km/h

24^th

Mean Wind Speed	11.0km/h
Mean Gust Speed	40.1km/h
Mean Wind + Gust Speed	25.6km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Northwest

Precipitation

Total Rainfall During February 2019	39.1 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	398.3 mm

Highest 24 Hour Total

11.6 mm

5^th

Rain Days	9
Thunderstorm Days	4
Hail Days	2

Rainfall Events

03/02/2019	3.2 mm	Thunder Rain and Hail Shower
04/02/2019	10.2 mm	Periods of Steady Rain
05/02/2019	11.6 mm	Thundery Rain and Hail Shower
07/02/2019	0.6 mm	Rain Shower
09/02/2019	0.9 mm	Rain Shower
16/02/2019	0.8 mm	Rain Shower
23/02/2019	6.9 mm	Rain and Hail Showers
24/02/2019	2.8 mm	Rain and Hail Showers
28/02/2019	3.0 mm	Rain Shower

February 2019 Compared to the Climate Means

	Climate Mean	February 2019	Anomaly
Mean Maximum Temperature	15.7°C	15.3°C	-0.4°C
Mean Minimum Temperature	9.5°C	9.7°C	+0.2°C
Mean Temperature	12.6°C	12.5°C	-0.1°C
Mean Relative Humidity	78%	60.6%	-17.4%
Mean Atmospheric Pressure	1016.6hPa	1019.9hPa	+3.3hPa
Mean Wind Speed	19.1 km/h	25.6km/h	+6.5km/h
Most Frequent Wind Direction	Northwest	Northwest	0°
Total Rainfall	61.6 mm	39.1 mm	-29.2 mm
Total Rainfall Since Last 01/09	497.8 mm	398.3 mm	-99.5 mm
Total Rain Days	11	9	-2
Total Thunderstorm Days	3	4	+1
Total Hail Days	1	2	+1

February 2019 Sets New Records

The month of February was around average with regards to temperature. Averaging at 12.5˚C, the mean air temperature was only 0.1˚C colder than the norm. Rainfall in February was substantially below the mean at our Għarb weather station. Despite this, most localities in the Maltese Islands experienced a wetter February, particularly across central and southern Malta. The total of 39.1 mm fell over 9 days. Hail was observed on 4 of these. Thunder was heard on only 2 days, however. February set new records with regards to wind. February is typically a windy month. This year, it was certainly no different. The highest gust last month was registered at 101km/h from the Southeast. This was the strongest ever recorded at our weather station in Għarb. It was during the worst Gregalata since 1982.

Severe Weather Reports

February 28, 20190

Severe Gregale on 23&24/02/2019

This was the strongest wind since the year 1982. A gust of 101km/h (Force 10) broke the long-standing wind gust record at our weather station in Għarb. The storm-force winds left behind a trail of destruction. In this report, we’ll describe what gave rise to this intense system and why it affected the Maltese Islands so badly.

It was classified as an intense Mediterranean cyclone. The Mediterranean cyclone that formed late on Saturday 23/02 and lasted till late on Sunday 24/02, was the very first since the one in November 2014. A strong jet-stream blew some very warm and humid air masses from the Ionian Sea, the Gulf of Gabes and the Gulf of Sirte towards the central Mediterranean. Simulateneously, frigid air from over the Balkans penetrated the central Mediterranean, initiating the process of Mediterranean Cyclone development. This cold air mass caused temperatures to drop rapidly all around the Maltese Islands. In fact, the temperature at our weather station in Għarb dropped by over 11°C in around 3 hours; starting at 15.4°C and dipping to 3.9°C. That is also the coldest so far this winter. The strong wind made temperatures feel even colder. Here, in the central Mediterranean both air masses clashed together. The ingredients were in place for an intense Mediterranean Cyclone to develop. As a result of their clash, an existing low pressure system started intensifying very quickly, in a process referred to as cyclogenesis in meteorology. In fact, atmospheric pressure at its center dropped drastically, and a Mediterranean Cyclone was officially formed.

The Mediterranean Cyclone affected Malta from late on Saturday 23/02 and lasted till late on Sunday 24/02 . As the cyclone made its way towards Malta, the islands were affected by several bands of convection located around the storm’s center. These produced heavy rain and thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms were very strong with severe gusts, moderate hail and funnel events. The storm generated waves of up to 10.1 metres and a storm surge.

According to weather stations, close to 100 mm of rain was measured in less than 24 hours in the worst hit areas. The storm-force winds produced substantial damage. The damage included uprooted trees, collapsed walls and downed power lines. The latter caused lengthy power-cuts in some areas. A number of areas suffered extensive flooding high enough to carry cars in some areas. The very high waves and storm surge caused great damage to coastal resorts, leading to a number of small sandy beaches being washed away.