Updates

00:00 to 03:00 – mainly clear; 11 C to 10 C; Calm
03:00 to 06:00 – mainly clear; 10 C to 9 C; Calm
06:00 to 09:00 – mainly clear; 9 C to 14 C; West Force 1/2 to 2/3
09:00 to 12:00 – mainly clear; 14 C to 17 C; West Force 2/3 to 3/4
12:00 to 15:00 – mainly clear; 17 C to 16 C; West Force 3/4 to 4/5
15:00 to 18:00 – mainly clear; 16 C to 14 C; West Force 4/5
18:00 to 21:00 – mainly clear; 14 C to 13 C; West Force 4/5
21:00 to 00:00 – mainly clear; 13 C to 12 C; West Force 4/5

The cold front’s come and gone. It brought with it strong winds, colder temperatures and a little isolated light rain and hail. A total of 0.2 mm fell over the Maltese Islands.

The chance of rain will become almost negligible by later on Thursday 06/02. The wind will die down by the evening on Thursday 06/02. The cold temperatures will linger on into Friday 07/02. Meanwhile, a zone of high pressure over the western Mediterranean will engulf the central Mediterranean in time for the long weekend. This means plentiful bright sunshine, milder temperatures and calmer winds.

With no rain whatsoever, this long weekend will be perfect for a picnic.

Il-front kiesaħ ġie u għadda. Ġab miegħu riħ qawwi, temperaturi aktar kesħinu xi xita ħafifa iżolata u bis-silġ. Total ta’ 0.2 mm ġew imkejjla madwar il-Gżejjer Maltin.

Iċ-ċans ta’ xita se jsir kważi negliġibbli minn aktar tard il-Ħamis 06/02. Ir-riħ se jonqos kważi għal kollox sa filgħaxija tal-Ħamis 06/02. It-temperaturi kesħin se jippersistu l-Ġimgħa 07/02. Sadattant, żona ta’ pressjoni għolja fuq il-punent tal-Mediterran se tespandi lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran għal tmiem il-ġimgħa twil. Dan ifisser siegħat twal ta’ xemx, temperaturi anqas kesħin u riħ ħafif.

Ma hemmx xita imbassra, u għalhekk dan tmiem il-ġimgħa twil se jkun perfett għal xi mixja tul il-kampanja.

A cold front will be moving across the central Mediterranean, as described on www.malteseislandsweather.com/a-brief-cold-spell-zmien-qasir-ta-kesha/. Despite this, very little to no rain is expected over the Maltese Islands. This is because the wind will be from the North. A kind of rain shadow forms over the Maltese Islands when the wind across the central Mediterranean blows from a northerly direction. Cold northerly air (blue arrows) moving towards the Maltese Islands encounters Sicily on its way. The air is forced to rise and condense. Condensations produces rain-bearing clouds over Sicily (area encircled in blue). Precipitation occurs and the moisture carried by the cold northerly air is lost. As the cold northerly air advances further south, the stretch of sea between Sicily and the Maltese Islands is not wide enough for the air to recharge with moisture. As a result, the air is too dry to form any clouds locally. As a result, no rain occurs over the Maltese Islands. That is why a North wind rarely brings any rain to our shores. This rain shadow is the the grey area indicated within the red lines.

Front kiesaħ se jkun għaddej minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran, kif deskritt fuq https://www.malteseislandsweather.com/a-brief-cold-spell-zmien-qasir-ta-kesha/. Minkejja dan, ftit li xejn mistennija xita fuq il-Gżejjer Maltin. Dan minħabba li riħ se jkun jonfoħ mit-Tramuntana. Speċi ta’ ‘rain shadow’ jifforma madwar il-Gżejjer Maltin meta r-riħ ikun mit-Tramuntana. Arja kiesħa mit-Tramuntana (vleġġeġ blu) resqin lejn il-Gżejjer Maltin jiltaqgħu ma’ Sqallija fi triqithom lejnha. L-arja titla u tikkundensa. Meta tikkundensa, din tipproduċi sħab tax-xita fuq Sqallija (reġjun indikat b’ċirku blu). Hemm tagħmel ix-xita u l-ilma li kien qed jinġarr minn l-arja kiesħa jintilef. Kif l-arja kiesħa tibqa nieżla l-isfel, il-baħar bejn Sqallija u l-Gżejjer Maltin ma hux wiesgħa biżejjed biex din l-istess arja terġa tiġbor il-fwar minn fuq il-baħar. Għal din ir-raġuni, l-arja tkun niexfa wisq biex tiżviluppa sħab fuqna. Għalhekk, ma tagħmilx xita fuq il-Gżejjer Maltin. Din hija r-raġuni li meta r-riħ ikun mit-Tramuntana ftit li xejn tagħmel xita hawn. Dan ir-‘rain shadow’ huwa l-parti l-griża indikat b’linji ħomor.

A cold front associated with an intense low pressure system over the Balkans will traverse the central Mediterranean from late on Tuesday 04/02 and early on Wednesday 05/02. This will influence our weather in several ways. The cold front is carrying with it cold air from over the Arctic. This will cause temperatures across the Maltese Islands to fall slightly. In a brief cold spell that will last for up to four days, from Wednesday 05/02 to Saturday 08/02, we will see 11 C to 14 C highs and 5 C to 8 C lows. The sky will be mainly sunny or partly cloudy on all four days. The only exception is the time period from evening on Wednesday 05/02 to morning on Thursday 06/02. Some light rain or drizzle could touch parts of the Maltese Islands then. We also expect a strong to very strong wind from the Northwest. For details about this, click on www.malteseislandsweather.com/strong-wind-warning-twissija-ta-rih-qawwi-7/

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa intensa fuq il-Balkani se jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran minn tard it-Tlieta 04/02 sa kmieni l-Erbgħa 05/02. Dan se jkun qed jinfluwenza t-temp tagħna f’diversi modi. Il-front kiesaħ qed iġorr miegħu arja kiesħa minn l-Artiku. Dan se jwassal biex it-temperaturi madwar il-Gżejjer Maltin jaqgħu daqsxejn. F’waqfa qasira ta’ kesħa li se tkopri erbat’ijiem, minn nhar il-Erbgħa 05/02 sa nhar is-Sibt 08/02, aħna se ngawdu minn temperaturi massimi ta’ 11 C sa 14 C u temperaturi minimi ta’ 5 C sa 8 C. Is-sema se jkun il-biċċa l-kbira xemxi jew ftit imsaħħab għal biċċa l-kbira ta’ dawn l-erbat’ijiem. L-unika eċċezzjoni hija minn filgħaxija ta’ l-Erbgħa 05/02 sa filgħodu tal-Ħamis 06/02. Xi xita ħafifa jew irxiex jista jmiss xi nħawi tal-Gżejjer Maltin dak il-ħin. Nistennew ukoll riħ qawwi għal qawwi ħafna mill-Majjistral. Għal dettalji dwar dan, segwu www.malteseislandsweather.com/strong-wind-warning-twissija-ta-rih-qawwi-7/

A cold front associated with an intense low pressure over the Balkans will traverse the central Mediterranean from late on Tuesday 04/02 till early on Wednesday 05/02. Meanwhile, high pressure over the Bay of Biscay will extend towards central Europe. The difference between these two will generate a strong to very strong wind from the Northwest across the central Mediterranean. The wind will not be extremely strong, but taking all necessary precautions is highly advised. This strong wind warning is valid from 15:00 on Tuesday 04/02 till 15:00 on Wednesday 05/02, but may be extended if and when necessary. The info below explains how the situation will develop over this time period.

Tuesday 04/02

15:00 to 18:00 – West Northwest Force 5/6

18:00 to 21:00 – West Northwest Force 5/6 to 6/7

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

Wednesday 05/02

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

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

06:00 to 09:00 – North Northwest Force 6/7

09:00 to 12:00 – North Northwest Force 6/7 to 5/6

12:00 to 15:00 – North Northwest Force 5/6

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands around midnight between Tuesday 04/02 and Wednesday 05/02. They could reach Force 8 across exposed areas. The wind will remain North Northwest Force 5/6 into Thursday 06/02.

The sea will be rough to very rough, with wave heights of up to 6 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be low from the Northwest to Northeast. The map shows the length of coastline most exposed to this strong wind.

Front kiesaħ abbinat ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa intensa fuq il-Balkani se jgħaddi minn fuq i-ċentru tal-Mediterran minn tard it-Tlieta 04/02 sa kmieni l-Erbgħa 05/02. Sadattant, arja bi pressjoni għolja fuq il-Bajja ta’ Biskaj se testeni lejn iċ-ċentru ta’ l-Ewropa. Id-differenza bejn dawn it-tnejn se tiġġenera riħ qawwi għal qawwi ħafna mill-Majjistral madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Ir-riħ mhux se jkun estrem, imma wieħed xorta għandu jieħu l-prekawzzjonijiet kollha neċessarji. Din it-twissija ta’ riħ qawwi tkun fis-seħħ minn 15:00 ta’ nhar it-Tlieta 04/02 sa 15:00 ta’ nhar il-Erbgħa 05/02, imma tista tkun estiża jekk u x’ħin ikun hemm bżonn. Dawn id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt juru kif se tiżviluppa s-sitwazzjoni matul il-ħin indikat.

It-Tlieta 04/02

15:00 sa 18:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 5/6

18:00 sa 21:00 – Punent Majjistru Forza 5/6 għal 6/7

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

L-Erbgħa 05/02

00:00 to 03:00 – Punent Majjistru għal Majjistral Forza 6/7

03:00 to 06:00 – Majjistral għal Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 6/7

06:00 to 09:00 – Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 6/7

09:00 to 12:00 – Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 6/7 għal 5/6

12:00 to 15:00 – Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 5/6

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija mistennija madwar nofsillejl ta’ bejn it-Tlieta 04/02 u l-Erbgħa 05/02. Jistgħu jilħqu Forza 8 fl-inħawi l-aktar esposti. Ir-riħ jibqa Majjistral it-Tramuntana Forza 5/6 matul il-jum ta’ nhar il-Ħamis 06/02.

Il-baħar se ikun imqalleb għal imqalleb ħafna, b’mewġ għoli 6 metri fl-aktar buffuri qawwija. L-imbatt se jkun baxx Majjistral għal Grigal. Il-mappa tindika l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ.

Once again, we’re looking at a week that’s going to be characterised by high pressure. We’re expecting mainly sunny or sunny skies on all days except for Monday 03/02, when it will be partly cloudy. No rain is anticipated this week. We’re already in the fifth week of 2020, but we’re still to experience this year’s first widespread rainfall. The start of this week will see a continuation of warm temperatures, with 18 C / 19 C highs and 13 C lows on Monday 03/02 and Tuesday 04/02. We will still be getting a good taste of winter, however. An incursion of cold air from over the Arctic is forecast to reach the Maltese Islands by Wednesday 05/02. Temperatures will dip briefly. We will see 11 C to 14 C highs and 6 C to 9 C from Wednesday 05/02 through to Saturday 08/02. Sunday 09/02 will see the return of above average temperatures. The arrival of the Arctic air mass will also generate some strong winds, as it clashed with the warm air locally. The Northwest wind will be strong to very strong from Monday 03/02 through to Thursday 06/02. It will be strongest on Wednesday 05/02, when it could reach gale-force at times.

After a few days of bright sunshine, the weather is set to become gloomy again. A band of clouds associated with low pressure over western Europe will drift towards the central Mediterranean overnight. Upon encountering the very stable atmosphere above the central Mediterranean, the clouds will stall. Local high pressure will inhibit any further development of the clouds. As a result, the development of rain-producing clouds is impossible. This means a grey sky for the Maltese Islands on Friday 31/01 and Saturday 01/02. The West wind will pick up on Sunday 02/02. This will help clear away some of the clouds, making for a partly cloudy sky till Monday 03/02. A sunny sky will return from Tuesday 04/02.

Wara ftit jiem ta’ xemx, it-temp se jerġa jiddaħħan. Massa ta’ sħab abbinata ma’ pressjoni baxxa fuq il-punent ta’ l-Ewropa se tersaq lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran billejl. Is-sħab se tistalla fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran, hekk kif jilħaq l-atmosfera stabbli ta’ madwarna. Pressjoni għolja lokalment se tipprevjeni dan is-sħab minn li jiżviluppa aktar, u b’hekk huwa impossibbli li jinħoloq sħab tax-xita. Dan ifisser sema griż għal Gżejjer Maltin nhar il-Ġimgħa 31/01 u s-Sibt 01/02. Ir-riħ mill-Punent se jerġa jqum xi ftit il-Ħadd 02/02. Dan se jgħin biex is-sema jiċċara daqsxejn. It-temp ikun ftit imsaħħab sa nhar it-Tnejn 03/02. Sema xemxi jerġa jirritorna minn nhar it-Tlieta 04/02.

The Maltese Islands have received a measly 20.4 mm out of the 203.8 mm we normally expect during the months of December and January. Climate values suggest that these two months should make up the wettest part of the year. Any rain in the coming weeks will continue to be isolated and infrequent. But what is behind this? It is a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO is the interaction between a general low pressure near Iceland (the Icelandic Low) and a general high pressure near the Azores Islands (Azores High). Over time, we notice fluctuations in their respective strengths. In its positive state, the Azores High is stronger than normal whilst the Icelandic Low is deeper. This alters the path of the jet stream. The jet stream is a very strong air current that flows west to east across the northern hemisphere, altering temperature and precipitation as portions of it dip southward or crest northward. In a positive NAO, the jet stream keeps to the north. This allows warm air from over Africa ro rise far more freely towards the Mediterranean and Europe. It also prevents low pressure systems forming over the Atlantic from reaching the Mediterranean and southern Europe, as they are deviated to the north. As a result the Maltese Islands experience a warmer and drier winter. A variable NAO is part of a cycle. We have had similar winters on numerous occasions in the past. The most notable include 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2009 and 2015. The latter was record-breaking. Scientists have discovered a very serious abnormality, however. The oscillations are becoming increasingly unpredictable. They have been varying more dramatically recently. Scientists say the loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming is causing the Icelandic Low to weaken. This would mean a more frequent positive NAO, and hence an increase in the frequency of warm and dry winters for the Maltese Islands. Summers will also become longer and hotter because of this. Of course, winter has some more weeks to go, so the state of the NAO’s could shift. As winter progresses, the chance of a shift becomes less likely, however.

Il-Gżejjer Maltin sa issa ħadu biss 20.4 mm minn 203.8 mm li ssoltu jieħdu matul ix-xhur ta’ Diċembru u Jannar. Valuri klimatiċi jindikaw li x-xhur ta’ Diċembru u Jannar normalment ikunu l-aktar parti mxarrba tas-sena. Minkejja dan, ix-xita matul il-ġimgħa li ġejjin mistennija li tibqa tkun iżolata u infrekwenti. Imma x’inhu l-kaġun ta’ dan? Tissejjaħ North Atlantic Oscillation pożittiva. NAO tirrapreżenta l-interazzjoni bejn pressjoni baxxa ħdejn l-Iżlanda (Icelandic Low) u pressjoni għolja ħdejn il-Gżejjer Ażore (Azores High). Ninnutaw li l-qawwa ta’ dawn tvarja minn żmien għal ieħor. Fi stat pożittiv, l-Azores High tkun aktar qawwija minn normal, filwaqt li l-Icelandic Low tkun aktar intensa. Dan iwassal biex il-jet stream ibiddel il-pożizzjoni tiegħu. Il-jet stream huwa kurrent ta’ arja qawwi ħafna miexi mill-punent lejn il-lvant fl-emisfera ta’ fuq, u jinfluwenza t-temperatura u x-xita hekk kif dan iserrep. Meta l-NAO tkun f’arranġament pożittiv, il-jet stream iżżomm il-fuq. Dan jippermetti li arja sħuna minn fuq l-Afrika testendi lejn il-Mediterran u l-Ewropa aktar minn normal. Din tipprevjeni wkoll sistemi ta’ pressjoni baxxa li jiżviluppaw fuq l-Atlantiku minn li jilħqu l-Mediterran u n-nofsinhar ta’ l-Ewropa, hekk kif dawn ikunu mbuttati lejn it-tramuntana. Ir-riżultat ta’ dan hija xitwa aktar sħuna u niexfa fuq il-Gżejjer Maltin. NAO varjabbli hija parti minn ċiklu. Fi snin imgħoddija rajna xtiewi simili kemm il-darba. L-aktar magħrufa kien dawk ta’ 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2009 u 2015. Din ta’ l-aħħar kienet rekord. Xjentisti skoprew xi ħaġa stramba ħafna, pero’. Il-varjazzjoni ta’ l-NAO saret aktar drammatika dan l-aħħar. Ma għadux possibbli tipprevjedi kif se tkun minn ħafna qabel. Jgħidu li n-nuqqas ta’ silġ fl-Artiku minħabba tibdil fil-klima qed iwassal biex l-Icelandic Low tidgħajjef. Dan ifisser li l-NAO tibda tkun fi stat pożittiv aktar spiss, u għalhekk se tiżdied il-frekwenza ta’ xtiewi sħan u nexfin fuq il-Gżejjer Maltin. Is-sjuf se jibdew ikun itwal u aktar sħan ukoll minħabba f’hekk. Ovvjament, ix-xitwa għad fadlilha xi ġimgħat, u l-NAO taf tinqaleb. Aktar ma’ jgħaddi ż-żmien, pero’, iċ-ċans li tinqaleb jonqos.

High pressure will prevail across the central Mediterranean, implying a continuation of dry weather in the Maltese Islands. A low pressure system that was trapped over the western Mediterranean throughout last week has finally dissipated. High pressure has replaced it. This week will be off to a sunny start, with Monday 27/01 expecting long hours of uninterrupted bright sunshine. Tuesday 28/01 till Thursday 30/01 will see a mix of clouds and sun. Next weekend will then be marked by more cloudy weather. All in all, we are in for another dry week. Temperatures will remain stable throughout this week, with highs of 16 C / 17 C and lows of 12 C / 13 C. These values are extremely warmer than the average for this time of year. In a contrast to last week, the wind will be mainly light to moderate from a Westerly direction.

Atmospheric pressure is too high. Much of the rain-bearing clouds within the system will miss us. This practically means that the drought that has gripped the Maltese Islands since the beginning of December will continue. The latest maps insist that the Maltese Islands are to expect no significant rainfall in the near future. This dry weather will continue till at least mid-February. Any rainfall on the night of Sunday 26/01 will be light and isolated. This would also deposit a substantial amount of fine desert sand. Monday 27/01 will be sunny.

Il-pressjoni atmosferika tinsab għolja wisq. Is-sħab tax-xita f’din is-sistema’ se jaqbiżna. Dan ifisser li l-perjodu ta’ nixfa li beda f’Diċembru se jibqa għaddej. L-aħħar mapep għadhom jindikaw li ma għandna nistennew l-ebda xita sinifikanti għalissa. It-temp niexef se jkompli għaddej sa minn l-anqas nofs Frar. Jekk tagħmel ix-xita matul il-lejl tal-Ħadd 26/01, din se tkun ħafifa u iżolata. Din tkun ukoll tal-ħamrija. Il-jum tat-Tnejn 27/01 se jkun xemxi.