Updates

For almost all of the Americas, spring 2020 starts late in the evening on Thursday 19th March. Much of the rest of the world will see its arrival in the early hours of Friday 20th March. In the Maltese Islands, spring will arrive at approximately 4:50 a.m. on Friday 20th March. The beginning of spring is known as the spring equinox, or vernal equinox. To people who live in Earth’s northern hemisphere, this means increasingly warm and brighter days that come with the pending arrival of summer. For those in the southern hemisphere, though, it’s autumn. The days are growing shorter, the weather is cooling off, and sunlight is growing dimmer as winter approaches. What drives this all-important seasonal clock? Technically, two things: Earth’s tilted axis and the planet’s orbit around the sun. The Earth orbits the sun once every 365 days and 6 hours. Our planet also rotates once per day around a tilted axis. That tilt is about 23.5 degrees and bathes different parts of the world with various intensities of light over the course of a year. These various intensities of light over the course of a year are referred to as seasons. During the equinox, the sun’s rays shine directly over the equator, with an equally long day and night in both hemispheres. The equinox occurs twice annually, in March and September. From now till 21st June, the sun will rise from a more northeasterly direction and set from a more northwesterly direction. The sun will become brighter and the UV Index will increase as it rises higher in the sky. In a week’s time, we will move time forward by one hour. Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday 29th March, marking an important step in the transition to summer. Starting on Sunday 29th March, there will be more light in the evening.

Għal ħafna mill-kontinent Amerikan, ir-rebbiegħa ta’ l-2020 tibda tard filgħaxija tal-Ħamis 19 ta’ Marzu. Il-bqija tad-dinja timmarka l-bidu tar-rebbiegħa fis-siegħat bikrijin tal-Ġimgħa 20 ta’ Marzu. Fil-Gżejjer Maltin, l-istaġun tar-rebbiegħa jibda għal ħabta ta’ 4:50 a.m. tal-Ġimgħa 20 ta’ Marzu. Il-bidu tar-rebbiegħa huma magħruf bħala l-ewkwinozju tar-rebbiegħa, jew ekwinozju vernali. Għan nies li jgħixu fl-emisfera tat-Tramuntana tad-Dinja, dan l-avveniment astronomiku jindika l-wasla ta’ ġranet dejjem aktar sħan u sbieħ li jiġu mal-wasla tas-sajf. Għal dawk fl-emisfera tan-Nofsinhar tad-Dinja, waslet il-ħarifa. Il-ġranet qed jiqsaru, it-temp qed jiksaħ, u d-dawl tax-xemx qed jiddgħajjef. X’iwassal għal dan l-arloġġ staġjonali importanti? Żewġ affarijiet: l-inklinazzjoni fil-pern tad-Dinja u l-orbita tal-pjaneta madwar ix-xemx. Id-Dinja ddur dawra sħiħa madwar ix-xemx darba kull 365 jum u 6 sigħat. Il-pjaneta tagħna iddur fuqha innifisha madwar pern inklinat darba kull 24 siegħa. Din l-inklinazzjoni hija ta ‘madwar 23.5 gradi u minħabba fiha partijiet differenti tad-dinja jesperjenzaw dawl tax-xemx varjat matul is-sena. Dawn l-intensitajiet varji ta ‘dawl matul is-sena jissejħu staġuni. Fl-ekwinozju, ir-raġġi tax-xemx ikunu diretti fuq l-ekwatur, b’ġurnata u lejl ta’ tul ugwali fiż-żewġ emisferi. L-equinox iseħħ darbtejn fis-sena, f’Marzu u f’Settembru. Minn issa sal-21 ta ‘Ġunju, ix-xemx tibda titla aktar mill-Majjistral u tinżel aktar mill-Grigal. Ix-xemx se żżid fil-qawwa tagħha u l-Indiċi UV jiżdiedu, hekk kif ix-xemx togħla fis-sema. Ftit aktar minn ġimgħa oħra, nimmarkaw l-bidu tal-ħin tas-sajf. Nhar il-Ħadd 29 ta’ Marzu, inmexxu l-arloġġ siegħa l- quddiem. Minn dakinhar l-quddiem se jkollna aktar dawl filgħaxija.

00:00 to 03:00 – variably cloudy; 12 C to 11 C; East Force 3/4
03:00 to 06:00 – variably cloudy; 11 C to 10 C; East Force 3/4
06:00 to 09:00 – variably cloudy; 10 C to 13 C; East Force 3/4 to 4/5
09:00 to 12:00 – variably cloudy; 13 C to 16 C; East Force 4/5
12:00 to 15:00 – variably cloudy; 16 C to 15 C; East Force 4/5
15:00 to 18:00 – variably cloudy; 15 C to 14 C; East Force 4/5
18:00 to 21:00 – variably cloudy; 14 C to 13 C; East Force 4/5
21:00 to 00:00 – variably cloudy; 13 C to 12 C; East Force 4/5

The feast of St Joseph is celebrated on the 19th of March and is a Public Holiday in the Maltese Islands.

Everyone knows about COVID-19 and its effects on our health, freedom of movement and the economy. No need for an introduction on the subject. But could a bad thing like the Coronavirus have a positive effect on the Earth we live in? Every cloud has a silver lining! Whilst the novel Coronavirus is causing panic worldwide, the environment we all live in is benefiting from the social isolation we’re practising.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit some countries harder than others, forcing authorities to intervene and ask citizens to go into lockdown. As a result; people stayed indoors, businesses shuttered their windows and cars stayed parked. Factory production declined and air travel has dipped. As a result, many regions have experienced a significant drop in air pollution. Some cities, particularly in China, saw a rare blue sky. The average number of days with a “good air quality” increased by 21.5% in February, compared to the same period in 2019. In the initial month of lock downs, in China alone, carbon dioxide emissions fell by 200 million metric tonnes. Emissions of nitrogen dioxide experienced dramatic reductions as well, with some areas recorded their lowest levels of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide in modern times. Nitrogen dioxide is a harmful gas emitted when fossil fuels are burnt at high temperatures, most commonly in motor vehicles and at power plants ed-hrvatski.com. Levels of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 also experienced an extreme drop. PM₁₀ is particulate matter 2.6 to 10 micrometers or less in diameter, whereas PM_2.5 refers to particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are produced by a wide range of industrial processes through including bulk material handling, combustion and minerals processing. The industries using these processes include brick works, refineries, cement works, iron and steel making, quarrying, and fossil fuel power plants. Another thing which has left its mark is the temporary suspension of cruise ship holidays. This is more evident in tourist hot spots, such as the Italian city of Venice. Water turbidity in the canals of Venice has improved substantially, leaving the water almost crystals clear. It is also evident offshore, with the sea around the lagoon evidently cleaner.

It is sad that the Earth can only ‘rest’ in the event of a deadly pandemic. What we can hope for is that the beneficial environmental impacts of this pandemic will not be forgotten but that the general public along with the authorities that be will push together for changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle!

A mass of air from over north Africa will retreat, allowing cooler air from over Europe to infiltrate our area. This will mean noticeably cooler temperatures for the Maltese Islands. Temperatures will be stable, with 16 C / 17 C highs and 11 C / 12 C lows this week. The Maltese Islands will find themselves sandwiched in between high and low pressure on most days. This means a mix of weather conditions. Some days will be sunny. Others will be cloudier. Some light rain or drizzle is also possible at the weekend. The wind turns Northeast / East / Southeast from Monday 16/03, and will remain so for the duration of the week. It will be mainly moderate in strength, but could be stronger at the weekend. Next Saturday 21/03 will mark the start of astronomical spring.

After an unstable couple of days, an area of high pressure rising from north Africa will mark the return of fine weather to the Maltese Islands. Starting tomorrow Wednesday 11/03; the Maltese Islands will enjoy long hours of uninterrupted bright sunshine, warm daytime highs (17 C to 20 C) and mainly light winds. Nighttime lows will be at 9 C / 10 C till Friday 13/03, before rising to 11 C / 12 C for the weekend. These settled conditions will last till at least Sunday 15/03.

Wara jiem ta’ instabbilta’, firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja li se testendi minn fuq l-Afrika ta’ fuq se timmarka r-ritorn ta’ temp bnazzi għal Gżejjer Maltin. Minn għada l-Erbgħa 11/03; il-Gżejjer Maltin se jgawdu minn siegħat twal ta’ xemx, temperaturi sħan matul il-jum (17 C sa 20 C) u riħ il-biċċa l-kbira ħafifa. L-anqas matul il-lejl se tinżel għal 9 C / 10 C sa nhar il-Ġimgħa 13/03, qabel ma titla għal 11 C / 12 C għal tmiem il-ġimgħa. Dan it-temp stabbli se jżomm sa minn ta’ l-anqas nhar il-Ħadd 15/03.

After several days with isolated showers, there’s a chance for a widespread rainfall event. If it happens, it would be the first in a long time.

A low pressure system will develop over the Gulf of Genoa during the day on Monday 09/03 brasil-libido.com. It will migrate southeastwards towards Libya, where it will dissipate on Wednesday 11/03. It will pass over the central Mediterranean in the process. A cold front associated with this low pressure system will be of greatest interest to our islands. The cold front, accompanied by a band of rain, is likely to move across the central Mediterranean from midnight till 06:00 on Tuesday 10/03. During this time, we expect showers which will be heavy and also possibly thundery and with hail at times. After the main showers, the chance of isolated light rain or drizzle will linger on till the late hours of Tuesday 10/03. Total rainfall should exceed 10 mm. The wind will be at Force 3/4 from the West ahead of and during the rain. Strong gusts are possible during showers. It will turn Northeast in the afternoon and increase to Force 4/5 at times 6.

High pressure will cover the Mediterranean from Wednesday 11/03 onward, bringing a spell of bright sunshine and warm temperatures to the Maltese Islands.

Wara jiem b’ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita, hemm ċans ta’ xita aktar mifruxa. Jekk dan iseħħ, tkun l-ewwel xita mifruxa fi żmien twil ħafna.

Sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa se tiżviluppa fuq il-Golf ta’ Ġenoa  matul il-jum tat-Tnejn 09/03. Din se tersaq lejn iil-Libja, fejn se tisfaxxa fix-xejn l-Erbgħa 11/03. Din se tmiss iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran fil-proċess. Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ din is-sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa se jkun ta’ l-akbar interess għalina. Il-front kiesaħ, li miegħu se jkollu firxa ta’ xita, mistenni li jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran minn nofsillejl sa 06:00 tat-Tlieta 10/03. F’dan il-ħin għandna nistennew ħalbiet tax-xita li se jkunu qawwijin u possibilment anke bir-ragħad u bis-silġ kultant. Wara din ix-xita, iċ-ċans ta’ xita ħafifa jew irxiex iżolata se tippersisti sa tard it-Tlieta 10/03. It-total ta’ xita mistenni jaqbeż 10 mm. Ir-riħ se jkun Forza 3/4 mill-Punent qabel u waqt ix-xita. Buffuri qawwijin huma possibbli waqt ħalbiet tax-xita. Ir-riħ idur Grigal wara nofsinhar u jżid għal Forza 4/5 kultant 6.

Pressjoni għolja se tgħatti il-Mediterran minn l-Erbgħa 11/03 ‘il quddiem, u b’hekk il-Gżejjer Maltin se jgawdu minn waqfa ta’ temp xemxi u temperaturi sħan.

The first half of this week will be marked by low pressure. Monday 09/03 will see partly to variably cloudy skies with the possibility of isolated showers at times. Tuesday 10/03 will turn out cloudy with showers, especially at first. The sky will clear up on Wednesday 11/03. With 14 C to 16 C highs and 8 C to 10 C lows, temperatures will be on the cool side for the beginning of this week. A ridge of high pressure is expected to extend from over north Africa towards the central Mediterranean from Thursday 12/03 onward. This will ensure fine weather throughout the second half of the week, especially on Thursday 12/03 and Friday 13/03, when a cloudless sky is expected. Saturday 14/03 and Sunday 15/03 will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will rise to 18 C highs and 12 C lows from Thursday 12/03 onward. Light to moderate winds are anticipated for the duration of this week. These should be mainly from the West to Northwest, with the exception of Wednesday 11/03 and Sunday 15/03, when a Northeast wind will be predominant.

The next five days or so will see four pressure systems affecting the Maltese Islands in quick succession. A ridge of high pressure currently covering the central Mediterranean will prevail till late on Friday 06/03. Lots of high clouds should cover the sky on Friday, but it will be very warm, with a 20 C high. The wind will be light to moderate from the Southwest to Northwest. Saturday 07/03 will see a cold front traverse the central Mediterranean. Temperatures will drop to 15 C / 16 C highs and 9 C / 10 C lows on Saturday and Sunday. Some isolated showers are possible on both days. Both days will experience a strong Northwest wind. A weak ridge of high pressure will bring fine weather for a day on Monday 09/03.  Tuesday 10/03 will be cloudy with some showers. The second cold front in four days will also bring more strong winds and cool temperatures that will stretch into Wednesday. The weather will stabilise from Thursday 12/03 onward, as an anticyclone will once again take hold of the central Mediterranean.

Matul il-ħamest ijiem li ġejjin se naraw erbgħa sistemi atmosferiċi differenti jaffetwaw il-Gżejjer Maltin. Roqgħa ta’ pressjoni għolja li tinsab fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran bħalissa se tipprevjedi sa tard il-Ġimgħa 06/03. Għalkemm ħafna sħab għoli se jiksi s-sema nhar il-Ġimgħa, l-arja se tkun daqsxejn sħuna, bl-ogħla ta’ 20 C. Ir-riħ se jkun ħafif għal moderat mill-Lbiċ għal Majjistral. Is-Sibt 07/03 għandna naraw front kiesaħ jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. It-temperaturi se jaqgħu għal ogħla ta’ 15 C / 16 C u l-anqas ta’ 9 C / 10 C nhar is-Sibt u l-Ħadd. Xi ftit ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita huma possibbli matul dawn il-jumejn. Ir-riħ se jkun qawwi mill-Majjistral fi tmiem din il-ġimgħa. Firxa dgħajfa ta’ pressjoni għolja se ġġib temp sabiħ għal jum tat-Tnejn 09/03. It-Tlieta 10/03 mistenni li jkun imsaħħab u b’ħalbiet tax-xita. It-tieni front kiesaħ f’erbat ijiem mistenni jġib ukoll riħ qawwi u temperaturi friski li se jkomplu sa l-Erbgħa. It-temp se jistabiliżża minn nhar il-Ħamis 12/03 ‘il quddiem, hekk kif antiċiklun se jerġa jieħu kontroll tal-Mediterran.

Anticyclones that have prevailed across the Mediterranean for the past 6 weeks or so will weaken and retreat for the time being. This will allow an area of low pressure to form over the Gulf of Genoa and migrate southeastwards, affecting us in the process. The tip of a cold front is to clip the Maltese Islands in the early hours of Tuesday 03/03. This may bring a few isolated showers to our shores before dawn. Not much rain is expected. The rest of the day on Tuesday 03/03 will be largely dry. The wind turns Northwest and increase to Force 5/6 just after midnight. A more promising chance of rain exists for Wednesday 04/03. A second cold front is expected to traverse the central Mediterranean during the day, bringing some showers which may be briefly heavy and thundery at times. The Northwest wind will remain strong throughout the day on Wednesday 04/03. Temperatures will dip to 15 C highs and 11 C lows on both days. Total rainfall may exceed 10 mm. Fine weather will return to the Maltese Islands on Thursday 05/03.

L-antiċikluni li għal dawn l-aħħar sitt ġimgħat iddominaw il-Mediterran se jiddgħajfu u jersqu l’hemm għalissa. Dan se jħalli sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa tifforma fuq il-Golf ta’ Genoa. Din se tersaq lejn ix-xlokk, u b’hekk taffetwana. It-tarf ta’ front kiesaħ se jgħaddi bi żbrixx minn magħna fis-siegħat bikrija tat-Tlieta 03/03. Dan għandu mnejn iġib xi ftit ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita qabel tlugħ ix-xemx. Mhux qed nistennew wisq xita. Il-bqija tal-jum tat-Tlieta 03/03 jibqa niexef. Ir-riħ idur Majjistral u jżid għal Forza 5/6 wara nofsillejl. Ċans aktar promittenti ta’ xita jeżisti għal jum ta’ l-Erbgħa 04/03. It-tieni front kiesaħ se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran matul il-jum, u jġib ħalbiet tax-xita li jistgħu jkunu qawwijin u bir-ragħad għal ħin qasir kultant. Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral se jibqa qawwi matul il-jum kollu ta’ l-Erbgħa 04/03. It-temperaturi se jonqsu għal ogħla ta’ 15 C u l-anqas ta’ 11 C f’dawn il-jumejn. L-ammont ta’ xita kapaċi jaqbeż 10 mm. Temp sabiħ jirritorna il-Ħamis 05/03.

It’s been just over 6 weeks since the last decent rainfall. After a record-breaking dry February 2020, rain will return to our shores this week. Successive areas of high pressure that have covered the western Mediterranean for weeks will retreat temporarily, allowing a low pressure system to penetrate our region. The weather takes a cloudy turn on Monday 02/03, with some showers expected on Tuesday 03/03 and Wednesday 04/03. Although dry, instability should linger on till the end of the week. A mix of clouds and sun will dominate from Thursday 05/03 onward. This week will be off to a warm start, with a 21 C high on Monday 02/03. It will become cooler on Tuesday 03/03 and Wednesday 04/03, with 15 C highs and 10 C lows. Temperatures will rise again in the second half of the week, with 18 C highs returning by the weekend. Monday’s light southerly wind will give way to a strong westerly wind from Tuesday 03/03 till Thursday 05/03. It calms down and turns east at the start of the weekend, before a strong wind from the Northeast sweeps the Maltese Islands on Sunday 08/03.