Reports

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)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

July 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

HOTTER THAN AVERAGE in JULY 2022

July 2022, the second month of meteorological summer, was marked by hotter than average temperatures. Whilst no extreme heat waves were recorded, the maximum temperature did exceed the climate norm of 31.2°C on eighteen days. Whilst daytime maximum temperatures were 0.7°C warmer than the norm, nighttime minimum temperatures exceeded the climate average by a staggering 1.6°C. This could be attributed to a warmer than average sea around the central Mediterranean. A very warm sea inhibits nighttime cooling of air on land. Nights did in fact feel very warm, offering meagre relief after a hot day. The air temperature at our Gozo weather station peaked at 36.8°C on the 5^th. A handful of localities on mainland Malta registered maximum temperatures in the region of 39°C.

The sea surface temperature around the Maltese Islands surged to 28°C / 29°C as the month progressed.

Whilst it was bone dry at our Gozo weather station, July 2022 proved to be more interesting in terms of precipitation for a number of localities in Malta. A national mean of 0.3 mm was measured by rain gauges distributed in a number of localities around the Maltese Islands. The wettest area was around Dingli. Other localities around central Malta also received some rain. Isolated showers developed over Malta on the 10^th and the 14^th. That week was characterized by instability. A pocket of cold air was present in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the Maltese Islands. The air at lower levels was substantially warmer and more humid. This state of affairs rendered the atmosphere unstable. As the sun heated the land, the warm and humid air at the surface was forced to rise. This caused the water vapour to condense, forming rain clouds. Cloudbuilding started early in the day, and the clouds reached a size large enough to produce an isolated shower. This episode of instability that spanned the entire second week of July also claimed the highest wind gust measured last month, a 45.1 km/h (Force 6) wind gust from the North Northwest on a breezy day on the 8^th.

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

Għarb: 0.0 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 0.5 mm (543.8 mm)

Dingli: 3.8 mm (495.1 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 0.4 mm (580.4 mm)

Żabbar: 0.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.0 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.3 mm (562.0 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

 Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

June 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

DRY and SIGNIFICANTLY HOTTER THAN AVERAGE in JUNE 2022

June 2022, the first month of meteorological summer, was marked by significantly hotter than average and bone dry weather.

With the mean temperature a staggering 2.4°C warmer than the climatic mean, last June was the warmest in decades. There was one heat spell at the start of the month and a heat wave towards the end of the month (24^th till 31^st). By definition, a heat wave is defined as a spell of three of more consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding the mean maximum temperature for that particular time of year by 5°C or more. A heat spell is any episode of intense heat that doesn’t satisfy the criteria for a heat wave. The hottest day last month was the 26^th, when the mercury soared to 35.9°C at our weather station. It was hotter elsewhere around the Maltese Islands. With a maximum temperature of 39°C, the 28^th was the hottest day nationally. A period of seasonal weather, with temperatures at or slightly above the norm, was experienced halfway through June.

There was nothing to report in terms of rainfall. June 2022 was bone dry. It was also relatively calm regionally, with no thunderstorms observed in territorial waters.

As the first month of meteorological summer, it also lived up to its expectation of being a calm month. There was only one episode of windy weather. Its peak was on the 10^th, when a wind gust of 45.2 km/h (Force 6) was measured.

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

Għarb: 0.0 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 0.0 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 0.0 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 0.0 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 0.0 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 0.0 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 0.0 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 0.0 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 0.0 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 0.0 mm (543.3 mm)

Dingli: 0.0 mm (491.3 mm)

Msida: 0.0 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 0.0 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 0.0 mm (580.0 mm)

Żabbar: 0.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 0.0 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 0.0 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 0.0 mm (561.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

May 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

WETTER but MARGINALLY WARMER in MAY 2022

May 2022 was marked by the gradual rise in air temperatures which is synonymous with late spring. Overall, it was marginally warmer than average. The mean temperature of 20.1°C was 0.3°C warmer than the climate mean. The 17^th was the warmest day last month. A maximum temperature of 31.9°C was measured on that day. No temperature extremes were recorded over the course of the month.

May 2022 was wetter than normal. The 12.2 mm measured across the Maltese Islands was a fraction higher than what one would normally expect in May. The majority was produced by two rainfall events: on the 8^th and 29^th. Both rainfall events produced a brief episode of heavy rain. Thunder was heard on both days too. Some small hail was also reported on the 29^th. A few days with light rain along with abundant fine desert sand were also reported. The wetter than average weather was due to prevalent instability across the central Mediterranean.

May 2022 lived up to its expectation of being a relatively breezy month. In fact, half of all days last month featured wind of at least Force 5 at times.

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

Għarb: 20.1 mm (576.3 mm)

Victoria: 20.4 mm (597.2 mm)

Xewkija: 16.6 mm (551.2 mm)

Nadur: 8.9 mm (619.4mm)

Marsalforn: 12.4 mm (625.8 mm)

Mellieħa: 6.2 mm (543.6 mm)

Buġibba: 9.9 mm (619.9 mm)

Mġarr: 12.5 mm (591.8 mm)

Naxxar: 8.8 mm (631.7 mm)

Mosta: 17.2 mm (543.3 mm)

Dingli: 10.0 mm (491.3 mm)

Msida: 10.2 mm (594.4 mm)

Valletta: 7.7 mm (371.0 mm)

Imqabba: 15.2 mm (580.0 mm)

Żabbar: 12.0 mm (595.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 9.1 mm (431.8 mm)

Sliema: 9.8 mm (578.1mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 12.2 mm (561.7 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

April 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

COOLER and DRIER in APRIL 2022 

April 2022 maintained the trend of cooler than average weather set at the start of winter. The transition to the warmer months is slower and continues to lag slightly behind. With a mean temperature of 15.6°C, April 2022 was half a degree cooler than the norm, with the difference from the mean being more pronounced in maximum temperatures. The temperature started exceeding the 20°C mark towards the last week of the month. The coldest temperature last month was measured in the very early hours of the 11^th, when the mercury dipped to 6.6°C. This was the only ‘extreme’ recorded in April 2022.

April 2022 became the fourth consecutive month to register below-average precipitation. The meagre 4.7 mm measured by our weather station was a mere 20% of the climate norm. At 2.0 mm, the national precipitation total stood at an even lower level. This fell over six days. Much of it was in the form of light rain that deposited fine desert sand. All zones of low pressure that traversed the central Mediterranean last month were of Sahara Desert origins. In fact, half of all days in April 2022 were characterized by airborne fine desert sand.

The wind blew from the Sirocco quarter for much of the month as well. This too is a tell-tale sign of the presence of north African low pressure systems. The wind gusted up to Force 6 or stronger on a staggering 12 days. The vast majority of these windy days were characterized by the Sirocco. The highest wind gust was registered at 62.8 km/h on the 14^th, during a gale that forced the cancellation of a number of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday plans.

The meteorological situation last month was as one would expect in a typical April. The only difference was the enhancement of weather conditions. A number of ridges of high pressure developed across the central Mediterranean from time to time. These were very short-lived as they were repeatedly forced to dissipate or migrate eastwards by the zones of low pressure that persistently emerged from the Gulf of Gabes.

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

Għarb: 4.7 mm (556.2 mm)

Victoria: 4.4 mm (576.8 mm)

Xewkija: 0.5 mm (534.6 mm)

Nadur: 3.0 mm (610.5mm)

Marsalforn: 3.4 mm (613.4 mm)

Mellieħa: 1.0 mm (537.4 mm)

Buġibba: 1.6 mm (610.0 mm)

Mġarr: 1.3 mm (579.3 mm)

Naxxar: 3.6 mm (622.9 mm)

Mosta: 2.8 mm (526.1 mm)

Dingli: 1.4 mm (481.3 mm)

Msida: 0.8 mm (584.2 mm)

Valletta: 0.3 mm (363.3 mm)

Imqabba: 1.5 mm (564.8 mm)

Żabbar: 1.0 mm (583.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 1.5 mm (422.7 mm)

Sliema: 1.3 mm (568.3 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 2.0 mm (549.5 mm)

Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Wind

Atmospheric Pressure

Precipitation

Rainfall Events

March 2022 Compared to the Climate Means

SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER in MARCH 2022

March 2022 continued the colder than average trend set in previous months. In fact, March turned out to be as cold as February. The mean temperature of 12.4°C was a staggering 1.6°C colder than the norm for this time of year. The mean maximum of 15.5°C and mean minimum of 9.4°C were 1.8°C and 1.3°C colder than the climate mean respectively. March 2022 was the coldest March in decades. The mercury dipped to a chilly 3.9°C in the early hours of the 25^th, making that night one of the coldest March nights on record. Less than a week later, at around noon on the 31^st, the Maltese Islands experienced one of the warmest March days in recent years. The temperature spiked to 24.6°C at our weather station on the final day of the month. Values were even higher in areas further inland. Minimum temperatures dropped to below the 10°C mark on a total of eighteen nights. The only average or slightly warmer than average days came in the month’s final week, indicating the much anticipated start of spring’s gradual rise in temperatures.

Although rainfall over the course of March 2022 was lower than the average, there was still a marked improvement over the previous month. The 21.2 mm accumulated by the end of the month were around half the total rainfall expected in a typical March. The bulk fell in a rainy episode halfway through the month (12^th and 13^th). The rest were produced by sporadic rain showers. Much of these showers deposited fine desert sand brought over by a predominant Sirocco wind.

Half of last month featured winds blowing from the Sirocco quarter. In fact, most days during March 2022 featured a hazy sky. This was due to the abundant fine desert sand blown across the Mediterranean by the southerly winds. Last month’s highlight was a gale-force wind from the East Southeast on the 18^th and 19^th.

The meteorological situation across Europe was fairly uniform last month. The meteorological situation over eastern Europe was characterized by an unusually strong and extensive area of high pressure. This anticyclone had been stationary over the region for a long while. Such a meteorological setting helped maintain a persistent stream of cold air from Siberia all the way to the central Mediterranean, keeping temperatures locally below the climatic norm. Further to this, a fairly stable atmosphere across our area deviated most rain-bearing systems to the north, maintaining the drier weather. The colder air further aggravated the situation. Things took a turn to a more seasonal meteorological setting by the final week of the month. Systems of low pressure of north African origin started developing over Tunisia. These traversed the central Mediterranean bringing warmer temperatures, elevated levels of humidity, dustier air and southerly winds.

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

Għarb: 21.2 mm (551.5 mm)

Victoria: 23.7 mm (572.5 mm)

Xewkija: 18.7 mm (534.1 mm)

Nadur: 23.9 mm (607.5mm)

Marsalforn: 15.8 mm (610.0 mm)

Mellieħa: 19.0 mm (536.4 mm)

Buġibba: 22.0 mm (608.4 mm)

Mġarr: 21.8 mm (578.0 mm)

Naxxar: 22.7 mm (619.3 mm)

Mosta: 20.0 mm (523.4 mm)

Dingli: 23.5 mm (479.9 mm)

Msida: 20.4 mm (583.4 mm)

Valletta: 14.8 mm (363.0 mm)

Imqabba: 30.2 mm (563.3 mm)

Żabbar: 17.1 mm (582.5 mm)

Birżebbuġa: 14.3 mm (421.2 mm)

Sliema: 15.7 mm (567.0 mm)

NATIONAL MEAN: 20.3 mm (547.5 mm)