Updates

The central Mediterranean will find itself sandwiched in between zones of low pressure over the Gulf of Genoa and a persistent ridge of high pressure over Libya for much of this week. The ridge of high pressure to our south will maintain mainly sunny to partly cloudy skies over the Maltese Islands on most days this week. The zones of low pressure over the Gulf of Genoa will be strong enough to direct successive bouts of strong winds across the central Mediterranean, however. The wind, which will alternate from the West Southwest to West Northwest, will be strong at some point on all days this week (up to Force 6 or 7). The southerly expansion of low pressure in the coming weekend may bring cloudier skies and possibly a little rain to the central Mediterranean. Although marginally cooler than of late, temperatures will still be warmer than  average throughout this week. Maximum temperatures will be average at 17°C with minimum temperatures very likely to be in the region of 12°C on most nights. Sunday 14/2 looks set to be the coolest day this week, as a result of a potential incursion of colder air from the north.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A ridge of high pressure will establish itself over the central Mediterranean on Wednesday 3/2. It will prevail across our region till at least Sunday 7/2, but may extend for longer. The high pressure will mean brighter weather, as variably to mostly cloudy skies give way to mainly sunny or partly cloudy skies. The cool and dry northwesterly wind will make way for a warm and humid southerly wind. The advection of warm air from the Sahara Desert towards the central Mediterranean will cause temperatures to rise to daytime highs of 19°C to 21°C. Nighttime lows will be maintained at above 14°C. Given the southerly winds, which may be fairly strong at times, there may be episodes of airborne fine desert sand. This would cause the air to be hazy at times.

MALTI / MALTESE

Firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja se tistabilixxi ruħha fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran nhar il-Erbgħa 3/2. Din se tippersisti madwar ir-reġjun tagħna sa minn ta’ l-anqas il-Ħadd 7/2, imma taf testendi għal aktar. Pressjoni għolja tfisser temp aktar ċar, b’sema il-biċċa l-kbira xemxi jew ftit imsaħħab. Ir-riħ frisk u niexef mill-majjistral se jċedi għal riħ sħun u umdu minn nofsinhar. L-arja sħuna li se testendi għal fuqna minn fuq id-deżert tas-Saħara se twassal biex it-temperaturi jiżdied għal massimu ta’ 19°C sa 21°C matul il-jum. L-anqas billejl se żżomm fuq l-14°C. Minħabba riħ minn nofsinhar, le jaf ikun xi ftit qawwi kultant, jista jkollna xi trab fin fl-arja minn ħin għal ieħor. Dan iwassal biex l-arja tkun imdaħħna kultant.

A zone of instability spanning the central Mediterranean will linger till midweek. The opening days of this week will feature variably to mostly cloudy skies and the likelihood of isolated showers. The wind, from the West to Northwest, will maintain its Force 5 to 6 strength. Halfway through the week, a ridge of high pressure will extend to cover the central Mediterranean, bringing finer weather from Wednesday 3/2 onward. We’re expecting the second half of this week to bring plentiful bright sunshine. The cool and dry westerly wind will give way to warm and humid southerly air currents by midweek. These will be mainly light to moderate in strength. The only exception could be Sunday 7/2, when the wind could be strong at times brasil-libido.com. Temperatures will be significantly warmer than average throughout. With an average maximum temperature of 18°C and an average minimum temperature of 13°C, temperatures will be a staggering 2°C to 3°C warmer than what we are accustomed to at this stage of winter. Daytime highs will range from 16°C to 20°C, while nighttime highs will vary from 11°C to 15°C.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A cold front associated with an intense low pressure system over northern Italy will traverse the central Mediterranean in the morning of Tuesday 26^th January. This will generate a brief gale from the Northwest across the central Mediterranean. This warning is valid from 09:00 till 23:59 on Tuesday 26^th January. The warning will be updated when and if necessary. The information below describe how the situation will develop over this time period.

Tuesday 26^th January

09:00 to 12:00 – Southwest Force 3 to 4, increasing rapidly to Northwest Force 7 (with gusts of up to Force 8)

12:00 to 15:00 – Northwest Force 7 (with gusts of up to Force 8)

15:00 to 18:00 – Northwest Force 7 (with gusts of up to Force 8)

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

21:00 to 00:00 – Northwest Force 5 to 6

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the early afternoon, when they could reach Force 8 (possibly Force 9) at times across exposed areas of the Maltese Islands. The sea will be very rough, with wave heights of up to 4.5 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be a low Northwest during the day on Tuesday 26^th January. The map shows the coast most exposed to this strong wind and rough sea. A brief but heavy rain showers, possibly with hail, will accompany the rapid strengthening of the wind.

The Northwest wind will decline gradually to become mainly light (Force 3 to 4) by morning on Wednesday 27^th January.

MALTI / MALTESE

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema intensa ta’ pressjoni baxxa lejn in-naħa ta’ fuq ta’ l-Italja se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran matul matul filgħodu tat-Tlieta 26 ta’ Jannar. Dan se jkun qed joħloq riefnu mill-Majjistral madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Dan se jdum biss ftit siegħat. Din it-twissija se tkun fis-seħħ minn 09:00 sa 23:59 tat-Tlieta 26 ta’ Jannar. Din it-twissija tkun aġġornata x’ħin u jekk ikun hemm bżonn. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt jindikaw kif se tkun qed tiżviluppa din is-sitwazzjoni matul il-ħin imsemmi:

It-Tlieta 26 ta’ Jannar

09:00 sa 12:00 – Lbiċ Forza 3 għal 4, li jissaħħaħ f’daqqa għal Majjistral Forza 7 (b’buffuri sa Forza 8)

12:00 sa 15:00 – Majjistral Forza 7 (b’buffuri sa Forza 8)

15:00 sa 18:00 – Majjistral Forza 7 (buffuri sa Forza 8)

18:00 sa 21:00 – Majjistral Forza 6 għal 7

21:00 sa 00:00 – Majjistral Forza 5 għal 6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija se jolqtu lill-Gżejjer Maltin kmieni wara nofsinhar, u jafu jilħqu sa Forza 8 (possibilment Forza 9) kultant fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Il-baħar se jkun imqalleb ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 4.5 metri fil-buffuri l-aktar qawwija. L-imbatt se jkun baxx mill-Majjistral matul il-jum tat-Tlieta 26 ta’ Jannar. Il-mappa ta’ hawn taħt turi l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ qawwi u baħar imqalleb. Ħalba xita qasira imma qawwija, possibilment bis-silġ, se takkumpanja l-bidu ta’ dan ir-riħ qawwi.

Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral jonqos gradwalment biex isir il-biċċa l-kbira ħafif (Forza 3 għal 4) minn filgħodu ta’ l-Erbgħa 27 ta’ Jannar.

ENGLISH/INGLIŻ

A cold front associated with a low pressure system over northern Italy will traverse the central Mediterranean in the morning of Tuesday 26^th January, and will affect the Maltese Islands in three ways.

1. Temperature: The temperature will fall gradually over the course of the day, starting off at 15°C and dipping to 8°C by its end. The colder temperatures will linger on till the evening on Thursday 28^th January, when temperatures should rise again.

2. Wind: The wind will be mainly light (Force 3 to 4) from the Southwest till the arrival of the cold front, at around mid-morning. Its arrival will be marked by a sudden shift of the wind to the Northwest and a rapid strengthening to Force 7 (with Force 8 gusts). The wind will decline gradually from the evening to become mainly light (Force 3 to 4) by morning on Wednesday 27^th

3. Rainfall: The arrival of the cold front should also bring a brief, but heavy, rain shower. Small hail may also accompany this shower. Lighter rain is possible ahead of or after this shower. This rain shower will coincide with the strengthening of the wind. Rainfall accumulations will not be particularly high.

More stable weather will return on Wednesday 27^th January.

MALTI / MALTESE

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa lejn in-naħa ta’ fuq ta’ l-Italja se jaqsam minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran matul filgħodu tat-Tlieta 26 ta’ Jannar, u għandu jaffetwa il-Gżejjer Maltin fi tliet modi.

1. Temperatura: It-temperatura se tonqos gradwalment matul il-jum, minn livell ta’ 15°C għal-ewwel sa 8°C lejn tmiem il-jum. It-temperaturi kesħin se jippersistu sa filgħaxija tal-Ħamis 28 ta’ Jannar, meta t-temperatura jerġgħu jisħnu mill-ġdid.

2. Riħ: Ir-riħ se jkun fil-maġġoranza tiegħu ħafif (Forza 3 għal 4) mill-Lbiċ sa ma jasal dan il-front kiesaħ. Mal-wasla tiegħu, lejn nofs filgħodu, ir-riħ jaqleb Majjistral u jissaħħaħ f’daqqa għal Forza 7 (b’buffuri ta’ Forza 8). Ir-riħ jonqos gradwalment minn filgħaxija biex isir il-biċċa l-kbira ħafif (Forza 3 għal 4) minn filgħodu ta’ l-Erbgħa 27 ta’ Jannar.

3. Xita: Il-wasla ta’ dan il-front kiesaħ se tkun immarkata wkoll b’ħalba xita qasira imma qawwija. Silġ żgħir jista jakkumpanja din il-ħalba xita wkoll. Xita aktar ħafifa taf tmissna wkoll qabel u wara din il-ħalba xita. Din ix-xita għandha tasal fl-istess waqt li jitqawwa r-riħ. It-total ta’ xita mhux se jkun partikularment għoli.

Temp aktar stabbli jirritorna minn l-Erbgħa 27 ta’ Jannar.

Most days this week will feature variably cloudy skies. The only rain this week appears to be coming in the form of a few isolated showers on Tuesday 26/1 and/or Wednesday 27/1. The weekend promises to bring plenty of bright sunshine for a change. With daytime highs hovering at around 15°C and nighttime lows dipping to around 10°C, weekdays should be characterized by seasonal temperatures. The coldest day this week is likely to be Wednesday 27/1, when the minimum at night could drop to below 10°C. Temperature values should rise substantially by the weekend, with maximum temperatures likely to be at 18°C / 19°C and minimum temperatures possibly staying as warm as 13°C / 14°C. A trend that will probably be maintained throughout this week is that of rather strong winds. Winds should reach at least Force 6 on some four or five days. The predominant wind direction will be the westerly. It will tend to be from the West Northwest on weekdays, but is likely to shift to the West Southwest at the weekend.