Updates

It’s been over ten days since the last widespread significant rainfall affected the Maltese Islands. According to the latest weather maps, it looks like we may need to wait at least another ten days before the next widespread rainfall drenches the Maltese Islands. There might be some light rain on Friday 27/09, but this will be localised and brief. This lack of rainfall is all down to an anticyclone over the central Mediterranean. It is continuously preventing any bad weather from reaching the Maltese Islands. The anticyclone should weaken over the first few days of October, perhaps allowing a low pressure system to penetrate our region, bringing some rainfall to us.

Ilna aktar minn għaxart ijiem minn l-aħħar darba li għamlet xita mifruxa u sinifikanti fuq il-Gżejjer Maltin. Skont l-aħħar mapep, jidher li se jkollna nistennew minn ta’ l-anqas għaxart ijiem oħra għal xi ftit xita mifruxa u sinifikanti. Jista jkollna ftit xita ħafifa nhar il-Ġimgħa 27/09, imma din se tkun iżolata u fil-qosor. Dan in-nuqqas ta’ xita huwa  kollu minħabba antiċiklun persistenti fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Dan qed iżomm il-maltemp minn li jilħaqna. L-antiċiklun għandu jidgħajjef fl-ewwel jiem ta’ Ottubru, biex b’hekk tiżdied il-possibilita li sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa tippenetra r-reġjun tagħna, u ġġib xi ftit xita lejna.

Latest maps are indicating that the Maltese Islands will probably not experience anymore significant rainfall this month. Some days will be cloudy. Others will be windy. But none are expected to be rainy. The Maltese Islands will be sandwiched in between an area of high pressure to the south and lower pressure to the north. The high pressure to the south will be advecting warm to very warm air towards the central Mediterranean. As a result, daytime highs will remain in the range of 27 C to 30 C, while nighttime lows will be a warm 21 C to 24 C. These values should last for the rest of September. The lower pressure to the north will push cooler air in the upper levels of the atmosphere towards us. This cooler air will clash with the warm air locally, creating cloudy skies on some days. Pressure will not be low enough to support rain showers or thunderstorms though, and as a result, the weather will remain fairly dry in the long term.

L-aħħar mapep qed juru li teżisti l-possibilita’ li l-Gżejjer Maltin ma jerġgħux jesperjenzaw xita sinifikanti matul dan ix-xahar. Xi jiem se jkunu b’sema msaħħab. Oħrajn se jkunu mirjieħa. Imma l-ebda mhu se jkunu bix-xita. Il-Gżejjer Maltin se jkunu maqbuda bejn pressjoni għolja lejn in-nofsinhar u pressjoni baxxa lejn it-tramuntana. Il-pressjoni għolja lejn in-nofsinhar se timbotta arja sħuna lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Għalhekk, l-ogħla temperatura matul il-jum se tkun bejn 27 C u 30 C, filwaqt li l-anqas billejl se tvarja minn 21 C sa 24 C. Dawn il-valuri għandhom jibqgħu konsistenti matul il-bqija ta’ Settembru. Pressjoni baxxa lejn it-tramuntana se timbotta arja frisk fil-livelli għoljin ta’ l-atmosfera lejna. Meta din l-arja friska se taħbat ma’ l-arja sħuna ta’ hawn, u twassal għal xi jiem bi sħab kultant. Il-pressjoni atmosferika mhux se tkun baxxa biżejjed pero’, biex tiffavorixxi l-iżvilupp ta’ ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad, u minħabba f’hekk, it-temp se jkun niexef għaż-żmien li ġej.

We are half-way through the month of September. We’ve had a mix of weather conditions over the past weeks. We have seen some showers and thunderstorms together with spells of bright sunshine and very warm to hot temperatures. With regards to air temperature, September 2019 has so far been warmer than average. With an average maximum of 28.7 C, daytime highs are currently 0.4 C warmer than usual. Night time lows have followed a similar trend. With an average minimum of 22.1 C, they are currently 1.3 C warmer than normal. More seasonal temperatures are expected in the Maltese Islands from Saturday 21/09 onward. Where rainfall is concerned, the Maltese Islands are split right through. The mean total rainfall across Gozo currently stands at 58.1 mm. That is already higher than the average for the whole of September. This is evident from the amount of water collected in water catchment areas across Gozo. Għarb has been the wettest locality so far. 77.7 mm of rain was measured in the Maltese Islands’ westernmost locality. The mean total rainfall across Malta currently stands at a lower 38.9 mm. The discrepancy between the two islands is down to the fact that a heavy thunderstorm in the evening of Tuesday 10/09 struck the island of Gozo, but missed Malta. It’s very likely that the last two weeks of September will be drier than the first two weeks of the month. With regards to temperatures, they should remain warmer than average till the end of this week, but then dip to average or slightly below average from this weekend onward.

Ninsabu f’nofs ix-xahar ta’ Settembru ed-hrvatski.com. Kellna taħlita ta’ temp fl-aħħar ħmistax. Rajna xi xita u maltempati bir-ragħad kif ukoll kellna waqtiet b’xemx tiżreġ u temperaturi sħan. It-temperatura sa issa f’Settembru kienet ogħla mill-medja. B’temperatura massima ta’ 28.7 C, l-ogħla kienet 0.4 C aktar minn normal. B’temperatura minima ta’ 22.1 C, l-anqas kienu 1.3 C aktar minn normal. Temperaturi aktar staġġjonali mistennija fil-Gżejjer Maltin minn nhar is-Sibt 21/09 ‘il quddiem. Fejn tidħol xita, il-Gżejjer Maltin jinsabu maqsumin minn nofs. Il-medja ta’ xita f’Għawdex sa issa qiegħdha 58.1 mm. Dan diġa ogħla mill-medja tax-xahar kollu ta’ Settembru. Dan huwa evidenti minn l-ammonti ta’ xita li nsibu fil-widien f’Għawdex. L-Għarb kien l-aktar milqut. 77.7 mm ġew imkejjla f’din il-lokalita. Il-medja ta’ xita f’Malta sa issa qiegħdha 38.9 mm. Din id-diskrepanza hija minħabba l-fatt li maltempata tard it-Tlieta 10/09 ħakmet lill-Għawdex u qabżet lill-Malta. Il-probabilita hija li l-aħħar ħmistax ta’ Settembru jkunu nexfin aktar minn l-ewwel nofs ta’ dan ix-xahar. Fejn tidħol temperatura, il-valuri għandhom jibqgħu ogħla mill-medja sa l-aħħar tal-ġimgħa, qabel ma’ jonqus għal medja jew ftit anqas minn tmiem il-ġimgħa.

Despite an unstable start to September, summer is not over yet. A ridge of high pressure from over north Africa will extend to cover the central Mediterranean from Thursday 12/09. This is expected to bring us a long spell of mainly sunny or partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will also rise again slightly. Maximum temperatures will be in the range of 29 C to 30 C. Lows will be a warm 21 C / 22 C. The wind will be mainly light and variable. The moist ground will allow for increased levels of evaporation, resulting in higher levels of humidity. This will, in turn, cause realfeels to rise to above 30 C on a number of days. This spell of fine weather will last for at least one week, but could last even longer. The latest maps suggest that the next round of unstable weather is expected towards the 21st. The details about that will be issued at a later date.

Minkejja bidu daqsxejn instabbli għal Settembru, is-sajf għadu ma spiċċax. Firxa ta’ pressjoni għolja minn l-Afrika ta’ fuq se tinfirex madwar iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran mill-Ħamis 12/09. Din mistennija ġġib magħha waqfa twila ta’ temp sabiħ b’sema l-biċċa l-kbira xemxi jew ftit imsaħħab. It-temperaturi se jogħlew kemmxejn ukoll. L-ogħla se jvarjaw minn 29 C sa 30 C. L-anqas se jkunu ta’ 21 C / 22 C. Ir-riħ se jkun il-biċċa l-kbira ħafif u varjabbli. L-art, li issa tinsab imxarrba sew, se twassal għal rati għoljin ta’ evaporazzjoni, u għalhekk livelli għoljin ta’ umdita. Din se twassal biex it-temperaturi jkunu jinħassu daqs li kieku qiegħdin fuq it-30 C. Din il-waqfa ta’ temp sabiħ mistennija ddum madwar ġimgħa, imma tista tkopri aktar żmien. L-aħħar mapep qed jindikaw li l-mewġa ta’ maltemp li jmiss għandha tmissna madwar il-21/09. Dettalji dwar din jingħataw aktar ‘il quddiem.

After the latest model update, we have decided to issue a severe weather warning. The main threat appears to be from one or two strong thunderstorms. The warning is valid from 14:00 on Tuesday 10/09 till noon on Wednesday 11/09 unless otherwise indicated.

An area of low pressure over the Gulf of Gabes will push an unstable air mass towards the central Mediterranean. Upon coming into contact with the warm sea around us, this unstable air mass will intensify and develop an area of showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers are possible at any time till late on Wednesday 11/09. These could be heavy and thundery at times.

Atmospheric conditions will be favourable for the formation of organised convective systems, particularly in the early hours of Wednesday 11/09. The warm sea locally will cause the area of showers and thunderstorms to reach peak activity over the sea between Tunisia, Sicily and the Maltese Islands. One or two thunderstorms may affect the Maltese Islands. Expect heavy to torrential rainfall, very strong winds and hail for some time in the event of a direct hit. At least one of the thunderstorms could be severe. A thunderstorm qualifies as severe if at least one of the following is observed: winds of at least Force 8, hailstones of at least 2 cm diameter or the occurrence of funnels. In the event of the thunderstorm missing us, total rainfall will be in the region of 2.5 mm to 10 mm. In the event of thunderstorms affecting us, total rainfall may exceed 30 mm. Further detailed updates will be issued ahead of any thunderstorms.

The situation will improve substantially in the afternoon on Wednesday 11/09. The sky should clear up. The East Northeast wind will remain strong, however, reaching Force 5/6 at times. In the meantime, isolated showers are possible at any time.

Wara l-aħħar aġġornament tal-mapep, iddeċidejn li noħorġu twissija ta’ maltemp. It-theddida mill-maltemp jidher li se tkun l-aktar fil-forma ta’ xi żewġ maltempati qawwijin. Din it-twissija se tkun fis-seħħ minn 14:00 tat-Tlieta 10/09 sa nofsinhar ta’ l-Erbgħa 11/09, sakemm ma jkunx indikat mod ieħor.

Firxa ta’ pressjoni baxxa fuq il-Golf ta’ Gabes se timbotta massa ta’ arja instabbli lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Hekk kif tiġi f’kuntatt mal-baħar sħun li hawn madwarna, din il-massa ta’ arja instabbli se tkun qed tintensifika u mistennija tiżviluppa diversi ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad. Ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita huma possibbli l-ħin kollu sa tard l-Erbgħa 11/09. Dawn jistgħu jkunu qawwijin u bir-ragħad għal ftit ħin.

Is-sitwazzjoni atmosferika se tkun qed tiffavorixxi l-iżvilupp ta’ sistemi konvettivi organiżżati, speċjalment fis-siegħat bikrija ta’ l-Erbgħa 11/09. Il-baħar sħun madwarna se jwassal biex il-ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad jilħqu l-aqwa tagħhom fuq il-baħar bejn it-Tuneżija, Sqallija u l-Gżejjer Maltin. Sa żewġ maltempati jistgħu jaħkmu lill-Gżejjer Maltin. Stennew xita qawwija jew torrenzjali, riħ qawwi ħafna u silġ għal xi ħin jekk tmissna xi maltempata. Minn ta’ l-anqas maltempata waħda tista tkun severa. Biex maltempata tikkwalifika bħala severa jrid ikollha minn ta’ l-anqas waħda minn dawn: buffuri b’qawwa ta’ Forza 8, silġ b’daqs ta’ 2 cm jew il-formazzjoni ta’ xi tromba. Jekk il-maltempata taqbiżna stennew minn 2.5 mm sa 10 mm ta’ xita. Jekk il-maltempata tolqotna, it-total ta’ xita jaf jaqbeż it-30 mm. Aktar dettalji se jsegwu qabel maltempati bir-ragħad.

Is-sitwazzjoni se taqleb għal aħjar wara nofsinhar ta’ l-Erbgħa 11/09. Is-sema għandu jibnazza. Minkejja dan, ir-riħ mill-Grieg il-Lvant xorta waħda se jibqa qawwi. Dan se jlaħħaq Forza 5/6 kultant. Sadattant, ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita huma possibbli minn ħin għal ieħor.

As forecast last week, a second wave of instability will be affecting our region in the first half of this week. In fact, it has already rained in several localities. This occurs as a trough of low pressure over the Gulf of Gabes will direct an unstable air mass across the central Mediterranean. Upon coming into contact with the warm sea around us, this unstable air mass will intensify and develop an area of showers and thunderstorms. This situation will prevail till late on Wednesday 11/09. Some showers, and at least one thunderstorm, are expected to affect the Maltese Islands. Isolated showers are possible at any time till late on Wednesday 11/09. These may be briefly heavy and thundery at times. A thunderstorm is possible at some point between late afternoon on Tuesday 10/09 and early morning on Wednesday 11/09. Heavy rain, strong winds and hail may accompany the thunderstorm, if it affects the Maltese Islands. In the event of the thunderstorm missing us, total rainfall will be in the region of 2.5 mm to 10 mm. In the event of the thunderstorm affecting us, total rainfall may exceed 25 mm. Further details about the potential thunderstorm will be given later.

Kif imbassar il-ġimgħa l-oħra, it-tieni mewġa ta’ instabbilta’ se tkun qed taffetwa ir-reġjun tagħna fl-ewwel nofs ta’ din il-ġimgħa. Filfatt, diġa għamlet xi xita f’numru ta’ lokalitajiet. Dan se jiġri hekk kif front ta’ pressjoni baxxa assoċjata ma’ sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa fuq il-Golf ta’ Gabes se timbotta massa ta’ arja instabbli lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Hekk kif tiġi f’kuntatt mal-baħar sħun li hawn madwarna, din il-massa ta’ arja instabbli se tkun qed tintensifika u se tiżviluppa ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad. Din is-sitwazzjoni se tippersisti sa tard l-Erbgħa 11/09. Xi ħalbiet tax-xita, u possibilment anke maltempata bir-ragħad, mistennija jaffetwaw lill-Gżejjer Maltin. Ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita huma possibbli l-ħin kollu sa tard l-Erbgħa 11/09. Dawn jistgħu jkunu qawwijin u bir-ragħad għal ftit ħin. Il-maltempata bir-ragħad hija possibbli bejn tard wara nofsinhar tat-Tlieta 10/09 u kmieni filgħodu ta’ l-Erbgħa 11/09. Xita qawwija, riħ qawwi u xi silġ jistgħu jakkumpanjaw din il-maltempata, jekk din tolqot lill-Gżejjer Maltin. Jekk il-maltempata taqbiżna stennew minn 2.5 mm sa 10 mm ta’ xita. Jekk il-maltempata tolqotna, it-total ta’ xita jaf jaqbeż il-25 mm. Aktar dettalji dwar din il-maltempata jingħataw aktar tard.

00:00 to 03:00 – partly cloudy; 23 C to 22 C; Northwest Force 4/5
03:00 to 06:00 – partly cloudy; 22 C to 21 C; Northwest Force 4/5 to 3/4
06:00 to 09:00 – partly cloudy; 21 C to 24 C; Northwest Force 3/4
09:00 to 12:00 – partly cloudy; 24 C to 27 C; Northwest Force 3/4 to 4/5
12:00 to 15:00 – variably cloudy; 27 C to 26 C; Northwest Force 4/5 to 3/4
15:00 to 18:00 – variably cloudy; 26 C to 25 C; Northwest Force 3/4
18:00 to 21:00 – partly cloudy; 25 C to 24 C; Northwest Force 3/4
21:00 to 00:00 – partly cloudy; 24 C to 23 C; Northwest Force 3/4

Victory Day recalls the end of three historical sieges: the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Empire ending in 1565, the Siege of Valletta by the French Blockade ending in 1800, and, the Siege of Malta during the Second World War by the Italian army ending in 1943. This day also coincides with the commemoration of the birth of the Virgin Mary, better known as the Nativity, which is celebrated in the villages of Senglea, Naxxar and Mellieha in Malta, and Xagħra in Gozo. The traditional regatta featuring boat races in the Grand Harbour is held on Victory Day.

September started off with a bang. Several showers and thunderstorms formed around the central Mediterranean during the first five days. At least five thunderstorms, and several isolated showers, affected the Maltese Islands. More will continue to develop around us till early on Friday 06/09. As a result, the chance for isolated showers possibly heavy and thundery at times will remain. The edge of a weak zone of high pressure will cover the central Mediterranean from Saturday 07/09 till Monday 09/09. This will ensure fair, albeit windy, weather throughout Victory Day weekend. The wind will be at Force 4/5 at times 6 from the Northwest throughout the weekend. Rain should not affect the Maltese Islands this weekend. The next wave of instability should affect the Maltese Islands early next week, when further showers and thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday 10/09 and Wednesday 11/09.

Settembru beda bil-maltemp. Diversi ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad żviluppaw fiċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran matul l-ewwel ħamest ijiem. Minn dawn, ħames maltempati bir-ragħad u numru ta’ ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita, affetwaw lill-Gżejjer Maltin. Aktar minn dawn se jiżviluppaw madwarna sa kmieni l-Ġimgħa 06/09. Għalhekk, iċ-ċans ta’ xita se jippersisti. It-tarf ta’ roqgħa dgħajfa ta’ pressjoni għolja mistennija tgħatti ċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran mis-Sibt 07/09 sat-Tnejn 09/09. Din se tiżgura temp sabiħ, għalkemm mirjieħ, għal tmiem il-ġimgħa u Jum il-Vitorja. Ir-riħ se jkun mill-Majjistral u se jilħaq Forza 4/5 kultant 6. Ma għandix tagħmel xita fi tmiem il-ġimgħa. Il-mewġa ta’ instabbilta’ li jmiss għandha tmissna kmieni l-ġimgħa li ġejja, meta ħalbiet tax-xita u maltempati bir-ragħad huma mistennija t-Tlieta 10/09 u l-Erbgħa 11/09.

After a long spell of southerly winds, high humidity and elevated real feels; things are about to take a turn for the better. The wind will turn Northwest in the early hours of Tuesday 03/09, and will remain so in the long-term. The Northwest wind will be moderate at times strong over the next couple of days. As a result, temperatures are set to decline. Highs are currently reaching 31 C. They will dip to below 30 C from Wednesday 04/09 onward. Nighttime lows are currently falling to 24 C. They will start dipping to 22 C from Wednesday 04/09 onward. Humidity levels will also decline. This will mean less suffocating air and lower real feel temperatures. The much-needed relief from the intense heat will be significant. With regards to rainfall, there is more to come. The chance of isolated showers will prevail till late on Thursday 05/09. Any isolated showers could be heavy and thundery at times. The chance of another thunderstorm remains, especially on Wednesday 04/09.

Wara firxa ta’ jiem b’riħ isfel, umdita’ għolja u real feels għoljin; l-affarijiet mistennija jinbidlu għal aħjar. Ir-riħ se jdur mill-Majjistral fis-siegħat bikrin tat-Tlieta 03/09, u se jibqa hekk fit-tul. Ir-riħ mill-Majjistral se jkun moderat għal qawwi fil-jiem li ġejjin. Minħabba dan, it-temperaturi se jonqsu. It-temperaturi massimi bħalissa qed ilaħħqu livelli ta’ 31 C. Dawn se jinżlu għal taħt it-30 C mill-Erbgħa 04/09 ‘il quddiem. L-anqas billejl bħalissa qed ikunu ta’ 24 C. Dawn se jinżlu għal 22 C mill-Erbgħa 04/09 ‘il quddiem. Il-livell ta’ l-umdita ukoll se jonqos. Dan  ifisser arja anqas suffokanti u real feels aktar baxxi. Is-soljev mis-sħana tant mixtieq se jkun jinħass sew. Fejn tikkonċerna xita, għad fadal aktar x’jiġi. Iċ-ċans ta’ ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita se jippersisti sa tard il-Ħamis 05/09. Dawn il-ħalbiet iżolati tax-xita jistgħu jkunu qawwijin u bir-ragħad kultant. Iċ-ċans ta’ maltempata bir-ragħad oħra jibqa, speċjalment nhar il-Erbgħa 04/09.