Updates

00:00 to 03:00 – clear; 28°C to 27°C; West Force 3/4
03:00 to 06:00 – clear; 27°C to 26°C; West Force 3/4
06:00 to 09:00 – sunny; 26°C to 29°C; West Force 3/4 at times 5
09:00 to 12:00 – sunny; 29°C to 31°C; West Force 3/4 at times 5
12:00 to 15:00 – sunny; 31°C to 35°C; West Force 3/4 at times 5
15:00 to 18:00 – sunny; 35°C to 31°C; West Force 3/4
18:00 to 21:00 – clear; 31°C to 29°C; West Force 3/4 to Calm
21:00 to 00:00 – clear; 29°C to 28°C; Calm

Also known as the Feast of St. Mary, this day is celebrated in various villages around Malta and Gozo. There is a great devotion to the St. Mary emerging from the remembrance of a convoy that arrived in the Grand Harbour just in time to save Malta from starvation at the end of the Second World War. It is a tradition that many Maltese people go to Gozo at this time of the year.

The world’s most popular meteor shower of the year is finally here! The Perseids, as it’s called, reaches its peak in the first half of this week. The peak nights will be in the extremely early hours of Tuesday 11/08, Wednesday 12/08 and Thursday 13/08. With typical rates of up to 80 meteors an hour (and up to 200 meteors an hour in outburst years), it is one of the most active meteor showers of all. The Moon may be waning, but being in its Third Quarter phase, it will still be bright enough to hide the fainter meteors. A rather good percentage of them should still be able to overcome the moonlight, however. If you’re in a dark enough area, you may still be able to catch 40 to 50 meteors per hour at the shower’s peak. If you wish to enjoy this celestial event to the full, make sure you find yourselves a spot as far away as possible from light pollution. Go to a dark area in the countryside, and prepare to sit outside for a few hours. It takes about 30 minutes for your eyes to completely adjust to the dark, and the longer you wait, the more you’ll see. These meteors will appear to radiate out of the constellation Perseus, hence their name. This constellation appears in the night-sky towards the North-east. Looking directly overhead will maximise your chance to observe the meteors. A meteor shower consists of pieces of comet debris heating up whilst entering the atmosphere and burning up in a bright burst of light, streaking a vivid path across the sky as they travel at 59 km per second. When they’re in space, these pieces of debris are called meteoroids, but when they reach Earth’s atmosphere, they’re designated as meteors.

L-aktar episodju ta’ stillel feġġejja popolari madwar id-dinja reġa wasal. Il-Perseids, kif inhuma magħrufa, se jilħqu l-aqwa tagħhom fl-ewwel nofs tal-ġimgħa li ġejja. L-aqwa ħinijiet se jkunu fis-siegħat bikrija tat-Tlieta 11/08, l-Erbgħa 12/08 u l-Ħamis 13/08. B’rata ta’ madwar 80 stilla feġġejja fis-siegħa (madwar 200 stilla feġġejja fis-siegħa fi snin attivi sew), il-Perseids huma waħda minn l-aktar episodji ta’ stillel feġġejja attivi. Il-Qamar qiegħed kull ma jmur jiċkien, imma peress li għadu fl-aħħar kwart tiegħu, xorta se jkun għadu qawwi biżejjed li jgħatti l-istellel feġġeja l-aktar baxxi. Numru tajjeb minn dawn xorta se jkunu jidhru pero’. F’post mudlam sew, xorta waħda se tkun tista tara xi 40 sa 50 fis-siegħa minnhom. Jekk tridu tgawdu dan l-avveniment ċelestjali tridu ssibu post il-bogħod kemm jista jkun imdallam. Morru f’post imdallam fil-kampanja, u stennew biex toqgħodu hemm għal xi ftit siegħat. L-għajnejn idumu madwar 30 minuta biex jakklimatiżżaw. Aktar ma tistenna, aktar se tara stillel feġġejja. Dawn se jkunu jfeġġu mill-konstellazjoni Perseus. Din il-konstellazjoni tidher lejn il-grigal. L-aħjar mod hu li tħares dirett il-fuq. Stillel feġġejja huma biss frak ta’ debris li tħalli warajja kometa. Dawn jinġibdu mid-dinja. Huma u deħlin fl-atmosfera jisħnu u jinħarqu. Dawn jidhru bħal linja ta’ dawl għal ftit sekondi, peress li jkunu għaddejjin b’veloċita ta’ madwar 59 kilometru fis-sekonda. Meta jkunu għadhom fl-ispazju, dawn l-hekk imsejjħa stillel feġġejja ngħidulhom metjoriti.

After some instability across the central Mediterranean last week, true summer weather will return once more. An anticyclone over Algeria and Tunisia will extend to cover much of the central Mediterranean. Its effects on local weather will be felt throughout the coming week. The sky will be sunny or mainly sunny on all days. The wind will blow mainly from the West, with most days set to be characterised by light winds. Saturday 15/08 may be fairly breezy, though. The anticyclone will drag with it hot air from the Sahara Desert towards our area. Once again, the temperature will climb to above average. Daytime highs will hover at 33°C / 34°C throughout, with real feels of around 39°C on the hottest days. Nighttime lows will be in the range of 24°C / 25°C.

This week has been relatively unstable across the central Mediterranean. A number of days were characterised by a strong breeze and fresher temperatures. There is the possibility of an isolated shower over the weekend (mainly early on Saturday 08/08 and early on Sunday 09/08).

This will change by Monday 10/08, as an anticyclone over Algeria and Tunisia extends to cover much of the central Mediterranean. This will drag with it hot air from the Sahara Desert towards our area. Starting from Monday 10/08, daytime highs will once again be higher than average, with values expected to rise to 33°C. Nighttime lows, on the other hand, will be in the region of 24°C / 25°C. From the start of next week, the wind will be light on most days. It may increase to Force 3/4 on some days. The wind will blow from the West Northwest to Northwest much of the time. Assuming the anticyclone perists for more than a week, temperatures may soar to highs of 35°C again by Santa Marija.

Din il-ġimgħa kienet relattivament instabbli madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Kellna diversi jiem b’riħ kemmxejn qawwi u temperaturi aktar friski. Hemm ukoll il-possibilita’ ta’ xi ħalba xita iżolata fi tmiem il-ġimgħa (speċjalment kmieni s-Sibt 08/08 u kmieni l-Ħadd 09/08).

Dan kollu mistenni jinbidel sa nhar it-Tnejn 10/08, hekk kif antiċiklun fuq l-Alġerija u t-Tuneżija se jestendi lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Dan l-antiċiklun se jġib miegħu arja sħuna minn fuq id-deżert tas-Sahara lejn ir-reġjun tagħna. Minn nhar it-Tnejn 10/08, it-temperaturi massimi se jerġgħu jkunu ogħla mill-medja, b’valuri ta’ 33°C. It-temperaturi minimi se jkunu fil-livell ta’ 24°C / 25°C. Mill-bidu tal-ġimgħa li ġejja wkoll, ir-riħ se jkun ħafif għal biċċa l-kbira tal-ħin. Xi jiem jafu jkunu b’riħ sa Forza 3/4, pero’. Ir-riħ se jonfoħ mill-Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral għal maġġoranza tal-ħin. Jekk nassumu li dan l-antiċiklun jippersisti għal aktar minn ġimgħa, it-temperaturi jistgħu jibqgħu telgħin u jilħqu 35°C sa Santa Marija.

As forecast, the West Northwest to Northwest has picked up. It will continue reaching Force 4/5 at times 6 till late on Thursday 06/08, before veering East and decreasing to become Force 2/3 by the afternoon on Friday 07/08. The strong wind will mean cooler temperatures and a choppy sea along exposed areas of the coastline in the coming days. That is not all, however. A confused swell is also possible. Swell waves consist of waves that have been generated by the wind in distant weather systems, but have drifted far away from their origin. Swell waves are largely unaffected by local winds, and normally persist for some time before dissipating. The coming days will see several sets of swell waves travelling in different directions, possibly causing crossing swells and a confused sea state at times. Recent days were characterised by relative calm and low swells from the East. Today’s onset of a strong West Northwest to Northwest wind means that swells from the Northwest will approach the Maltese Islands. The interaction of swell waves from opposite directions sometimes leads to confused and overlapping swells. A confused swell may be a hazard for swimmers and scuba divers, especially when further away from the shore. Crossing swells may also make boat handling more difficult. We advise you to keep this mind over the next few days, and be more cautious.

Kif imbassar, ir-riħ mill-Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral qed jitqawwa xi ftit. Dan se jilħaq Forza 4/5 kultant 6 f’xi ħinijiet sa tard il-Ħamis 06/08, qabel ma jdur Lvant u jonqos għal Forza 2/3 sa wara nofsinhar tal-Ġimgħa 07/08. Ir-riħ qawwi se jfisser temperaturi aktar friski u baħar kemmxejn imqalleb fejn jaqbel matul il-jiem li ġejjin. Dak mhux kollox. Jaf ikollna wkoll imbatt imħawwad. L-imbatt huma mewġ li jiġu ġġenerati f’sistemi tat-temp lil hinn minn xtutna, u li jibqgħu ġejjin l’hawn. Dawn kapaċi jippersistu għal siegħat twal qabel ma jisfaxxaw fix-xejn. Fil-jiem li ġejjin se naraw imbatt minn direzzjonijiet varji. Fl-aħħar jiem kellna arja pjuttost kalma u b’imbatt ħafif mill-Lvant. Il-wasla ta’ riħ qawwi mill-Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral illum, ifisser li se jkollna imbatt mill-Majjistral ukoll. Meta imbatt minn direzzjonijiet opposti jiltaqgħa, jaf iwassal għal baħar imħawwad. Dan jista jkun ta’ xkiel kemm għal għawwiema u bugħaddasa, speċjalment jekk ikunu imbiegħda mill-kosta. Imbatt imħawwad kapaċi jagħmilha aktar difiċli biex tikkontrolla opri tal-baħar żgħar. Navżawkom biss biex tkunu kawti u żżommu dan f’moħħkom għal jiem li ġejjin.

Recent days saw the Maltese Islands experience their hottest temperatures so far this year. The heat spell will come to an end by late on Monday 03/08, as a low pressure system develops over Italy. This will drag cool air from the north towards our region, causing temperatures to dip to more comfortable values on Tuesday 04/08. The daytime high of 34°C and nighttime low of 25°C on Monday 03/08 will be this week’s warmest. All remaining days will be characterised by 29°C to 32°C highs and 23°C /24°C lows. The low pressure system over Italy will create a pressure gradient across our region. As a result, the West Northwest to Northwest wind will be rather strong at times from Monday 03/08 through to Thursday 06/08. It will be mainly light and Variable for the weekend. The cooler air that will be directed towards our region will move over the very warm sea around the Maltese Islands. The atmosphere above us will be destabilised somewhat. As a result, some clouds are to be expected on a few days. The chance of a few isolated showers early in the day on Friday 07/08 and Saturday 08/08 cannot be completely ruled out. If necessary, we will update you on this at a later date. No severe weather is anticipated though.

The Maltese Islands have sweltered in maximum temperatures of up to 36°C (with realfeels of over 40°C). These hot temperatures have turned the sea into a veritable tropical aquarium, with the surface temperature surging to 28°C, over three degrees Celsius above the norm for this time of year.

The current heat spell is expected to continue till Monday 03/08, with daytime highs of up to 36°C till then. In contrast to recent days, a fresh Northwest breeze is likely to offer some relief from the sizzling heat. Tuesday 04/08 will then be the start of a break from the intense heat, when a rather strong wind from the Northwest will cause daytime highs to dip to 30°C / 31°C for some four days.

F’dawn l-aħħar jiem, il-Gżejjer Maltin inxtwew f’temperaturi massimi li laħqu l-livell ta’ 36°C (u kienu jinħassu daqs li kieku kienu aktar minn 40°C). Dawn it-temperaturi sħan bidlu l-baħar ta’ madwarna f’akkwarju tropikali. It-temperatura ta’ wiċċ il-baħar laħqet 28°C, jew ftit aktar minn tlett gradi ogħla mill-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena.

Dan il-perjodu ta’ sħan qalila mistenni li jkompli sa nhar it-Tnejn 03/08, bl-ogħla matul il-jum tkompli tilħaq 36°C sa dakinhar. Għal kuntrarju ta’ dawn l-aħħar jiem pero’, żiffa ħelwa mill-Majjistral se toffri xi ftit soljev mis-sħana intensa. Nhar it-Tlieta 04/08, imbagħad, se jkun il-bidu ta’ waqfa qasira ta’ temperaturi aktar friski, meta riħ daqsxejn qawwi mill-Majjistral se jbaxxi t-temperaturi għal livelli ta’ 30°C / 31°C għal minn ta’ l-anqas erbat ijiem.

An anticyclone over the central Mediterranean has strengthened. It will draw in very hot air from over north Africa, bringing a heat spell to the Maltese Islands. This heat spell will likely be the hottest part of this year’s summer. From Tuesday 28/07 till at least Monday 03/08 (this may be extended), the maximum temperatures will soar to 35°C / 36°C, with realfeels possibly reaching 40°C on the hottest of days. That is 4°C to 5°C more than the average for this time of year. Minimum temperatures at night will be in the region of 24°C / 25°C on most nights. Windless nights will be especially warm and clammy. A fresh Northwest breeze on some days, especially over the weekend, will make the situation more bearable. Skies will be sunny, with early and late mist or fog patches. This heat spell will not qualify as a heatwave though, as the maximum temperatures will never be more than 5°C hotter than what we normally have for three or more consecutive days.

The situation across parts of Europe will be worse. A handful of localities across Spain, France and Italy will see temperatures of up to 40°C.

Antiċiklun fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran issaħħaħ sew. Dan se jtella miegħu arja sħuna ħafna minn fuq l-Afrika ta’ Fuq, biex b’hekk jwassal għal perjodu ta’ temperaturi sħan. Il-jiem li ġejjin x’aktarx ikunu l-aktar sħan għal din is-sena. Minn nhar it-Tlieta 28/07 sa nhar it-Tnejn 03/08 (tista tiġi estiża), it-temperaturi massimi se tilħaq 35°C / 36°C, u f’xi jiem partikolari tista tkun tinħass daqs li kieku 40°C. Dan huwa minn 4°C sa 5°C ogħla mill-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. It-temperaturi minimi se jkunu fir-reġjun ta’ 24°C / 25°C f’ħafna ljieli. Iljieli bla riħ ikunu partikolarment sħan u skomdi. Żiffa ħelwa mill-Majjistral f’xi jiem, speċjalment lejn tmiem il-ġimgħa, se tħaffef mill-qilla tas-sħana. Is-sema se jkun xemxi, b’irqajja ta’ ċpar kmieni u tard. Dan il-perjodu ta’ temperaturi ogħla mill-medja mhux se jikkwalifika bħala ‘heatwave’, pero. Dan minħabba li t-temperaturi qatt ma huma se jkunu 5°C jew aktar ogħla mill-medja għal tlett ijiem konsekkuttivi jew aktar.

Is-sitwazzjoni madwar xi nħawi ta’ l-Ewropa se tkun agħar. Xi lokalitajiet fi Spanja, Franza u l-Italja se jesperjenzaw temperaturi li jlaħħqu 40°C.

An anticyclone across the central Mediterranean will expand to cover much of the Mediterranean. This will drag a plume of hot to very hot air from over north Africa towards Europe. Most countries around the Mediterranean will experience a heatwave. The situation locally will not be as extreme as in neighbouring countries, but it will still be very hot. Daytime highs will be at 33°C / 34°C on weekdays, before soaring to 35°C / 36°C for the weekend. It may feel as hot as 40°C over the weekend. Nighttime lows will be at 23°C / 24°C during the day, before warming up to 25°C /26°C by the weekend. The coming weekend will likely be the hottest part of summer 2020. We’re expecting sunny skies on all seven days this week. Early and late mist or fog patches are likely as well. The wind will be light from a predominantly Westerly direction up till Friday 31/07. It may become breezy over the weekend.

It’s been unseasonably cool over the past week, with mean temperatures some 1.7°C below the average for this time of year. The Maltese Islands are nearing the peak of summer. Temperatures across the Maltese Islands will warm up over the next couple of days. Daytime highs will be in the range of 30°C to 32°C, whilst nighttime lows will vary from 22°C to 24°C. The wind will be mainly light from a Southerly quadrant in the first four days. The sky will be sunny or mainly sunny on all four days. Weakening of high pressure across the central Mediterranean by Friday 17/07 could mean an unstable weekend for the Maltese Islands, however. Temperatures will dip to 29°C / 30°C by day. Lows will remain stable. The wind will veer Northwest and strengthen substantially on Friday 17/07 and Saturday 18/07. It is expected to become mainly light and Variable again on Sunday 19/07. The more unstable atmosphere is expected to generate several thunderstorms over Sicily by the weekend. We should expect partly cloudy skies locally. Remnants of any thunderstorms over Sicily may drift south, possibly bringing a brief isolated light rain or drizzle to our shores on Saturday 18/07.