Updates

A cold front will be traversing across the central Mediterranean on Wednesday 14/08. Meanwhile, a ridge of high pressure will be present over France. This will cause a strong, cool northwesterly wind to affect the Maltese Islands. The wind will not be too strong, but taking the necessary precautions is helpful. This strong wind warning is valid from noon on Wednesday 14/08 till 06:00 on Thursday 15/08. The details below describe how the situation will be developing over this time period.

Wednesday 13/08

12:00 to 15:00 – Northwest Force 4/5

15:00 to 18:00 – Northwest Force 5/6

18:00 to 21:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

21:00 to 00:00 – Northwest Force 6/7

Thursday 15/08

00:00 to 03:00 – Northwest Force 5/6

03:00 to 06:00 – Northwest Force 4/5

The peak gusts will blow across the Maltese Islands in the evening on Wednesday 14/08, and may reach Force 8 on high ground and at sea. The wind will turn North and decrease to Force 3/4 by the early morning on Thursday 15/08.

The sea will be rough, with wave heights of up to 3.5 metres in peak gusts. The swell will be low Northwest. The map shows the length of coastline most exposed to this strong wind.

Front ta’ arja kiesħa se jkun qed jgħaddi minn fuq iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran nhar l-Erbgħa 14/08. Sadattant, roqgħa ta’ arja bi pressjoni għolja se żżomm posta fuq Franza. Dan se jwassal biex riħ qawwi u frisk mill-Majjistral jaffetwa lill-Gżejjer Maltin. Ir-riħ mhux se jkun qawwi ħafna, imma l-prekawzzjonijiet meħtieġa għandhom jittieħdu. Din it-twissija ta’ riħ qawwi ser tkun fis-seħħ minn nofsinhar ta’ l-Erbgħa 14/08 sas 06:00 tal-Ħamis 15/08. Id-dettalji ta’ hawn taħt juru kif se tiżviluppa s-sitwazzjoni matul dan il-ħin.

L-Erbgħa 14/08

12:00 sa 15:00 – Majjistral Forza 4/5

15:00 sa 18:00 – Majjistral Forza 5/6

18:00 sa 21:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

21:00 sa 00:00 – Majjistral Forza 6/7

Il-Ħamis 15/08

00:00 sa 03:00 – Majjistral Forza 5/6

03:00 sa 06:00 – Majjistral Forza 4/5

Il-buffuri l-aktar qawwija mistennija filgħaxija ta’ l-Erbgħa 14/08, u jistgħu jilħqu Forza 8 f’postijiet għoljin u fuq il-baħar. Ir-riħ se jdur Tramuntana u jonqos għal-Forza 3/4 minn kmieni l-Ħamis 15/08 filgħodu.

Il-baħar se jkun imqalleb, b’mewġ għoli 3.5 metri fl-aktar buffuri qawwija. L-imbatt se jkun baxxa mill-Majjistral. Il-mappa tindika l-kosta l-aktar esposta għal dan ir-riħ.

We are at the peak of summer. The north African anticyclone, that extends north from the Sahara Desert should remain strong across the Mediterranean region till midweek, before weakening slightly from then on. Temperatures will soar to 36 C till Wednesday 14/08, before decreasing to average levels of 31 C / 32 C from Thursday 15/08 onward. Lows will be at 26 C / 27 C till Wednesday, before decreasing to 23 C / 24 C from Thursday polska-ed.com. Another week of back-to-back sunshine is on the cards for the Maltese Islands, bar the early and late low clouds on some days. A white haze should obscure the sky throughout the first half of the week though. This is the combined effect of the high relative humidity and intense heat. Winds will be mainly light and variable till early Wednesday, before turning Northwest and increasing in strength from then on. It will reach Force 4/5 at times.

We are currently at the height of summer. Temperatures will reach 36 C on a daily basis. Real feels will soar to 42 C. Nights will offer little relief. This state of affairs will prevail till Thursday 15/08. From then on, the anticyclone that has brought us successive plumes of hot air from over north Africa will weaken slightly. This should allow slightly cooler air from over Europe to infiltrate our region. Starting this Thursday, maximum temperatures will decrease slightly to average levels. Highs will reach 32 C / 33 C, while lows will dip to 23 C / 24 C. This is still regarded as hot, but at least, it will be less hot than it was in recent weeks. These temperatures are expected to prevail till the end of August, before starting to decrease further in September. The wind will be from the Northwest on most days, allowing for a fresh breeze to develop.

Bħalissa ninsabu fl-aqwa tas-sajf. It-temperaturi se jilħqu 36 C kuljum. Dawn se jinħassu daqs li kieku 42 C polska-ed.com. L-iljieli se joffru ftit li xejn soljev. Din is-sitwazzjoni se tippersisti sa nhar il-Ħamis 15/08. Minn dakinhar ‘il quddiem, l-antiċiklun li ġab massa ta’ arja sħuna ħafna minn l-Afrika ta’ fuq, waħda wara l-oħra, se jidgħajjef kemmxejn. Din għandha tħalli arja daqsxejn aktar friska minn fuq l-Ewropa biex tilħaqna. Minn nhar il-Ħamis, it-temperaturi massimi se jibdew ikunu mal-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. L-ogħla se tkun ta’ 32 C / 33 C, filwaqt li l-anqas se jkunu 23 C / 24 C. L-arja xorta waħda se tkun sħuna, pero se tkun anqas sħuna minn kemm kienet dawn l-aħħar ġimgħat. It-temperaturi għandhom jibqgħu hekk b’mod konsistenti sa l-aħħar ta’ Awwissu, qabel ma jonqsu aktar f’Settembru. Ir-riħ se jkun mill-Majjistral f’ħafna mill-jiem, u għalhekk jaf ikollna żiffa ħelwa kultant ukoll.

Is this summer normal? What will the weather be like in the long-term? Will the temperatures start decreasing? When will we have the first rain? These are questions we receive on a daily basis. We will be taking some time to provide you with a collective answer.

• Some facts about summer till now: It goes without saying. Summer in the Maltese Islands is hot and dry. However, if you have felt that this year’s summer has so far been hotter than average, you are absolutely right! With an average maximum of 31.6 C, daytime highs have been 1.2 C warmer than normal. With an average minimum of 23.1 C, nighttime lows have been 2.8 C warmer than usual. Furthermore, occasional high levels of humidity have not helped, as realfeels have been pushed to over 40 C on numerous occasions.

• What is causing it? In a typical summer, a series of anticyclones from over north Africa extend north to cover the Mediterranean. This year, these anticyclones have been stronger and more frequent.

• What will the weather be like in the long-term? The grip that anticyclones have had on the Mediterranean will continue for now, allowing for further hot temperatures and dry weather to affect the Maltese Islands. As always, a day or two with strong winds and cooler temperatures will occur from time to time. Apart from that, there are absolutely no signs of an early autumn.

• Will the temperatures start decreasing? The days leading up to Santa Marija will see maximum temperatures in the region of 36 C. From then on, temperatures should settle at levels which are normal for the summer months. This means further hot weather, just not as hot as in the past two months. A very important thing to note is that the second half of August and all of September are known for their high humidity, and therefore for their high realfeel values.

• When will we have the first rain? There will be no significant rainfall in the near future. It is still too early to know when the first significant rainfall will come.

Dan is-sajf huwa wieħed normali? Kif se jkun it-temp fit-tul? It-temperaturi meta se jonqsu xi daqsxejn? Meta se jkollna l-ewwel xita? Dawn huma mistoqsijiet li nirċievu ta’ kuljum. Hawn se jkunu qed nagħtu risposta kollettiva għal dawn il-mistoqsijiet.

• Xi fatt dwar is-sajf sa issa: Ma għandniex għalfejn ngħidu. Is-sajf fil-Gżejjer Maltin huwa wieħed sħun u niexef. Pero, jekk ħassejtu li dan is-sajf kien aktar sħun minn normal, qed taħsbu sew! B’medja ta’ 31.6 C bħala temperatura massima, l-ogħla temperaturi kienu 1.2 C aktar sħan minn normal. B’medja ta; 23.1 C, l-anqas temperaturi kienu 2.8 C aktar sħan minn normal. Apparti minn hekk, episodji ta’ umdita għolja ma għenux, u waslu biex xi jiem inħassu daqs li kieku kienu 40 C jew aktar.

• X’inhu jikkawża dan? F’sajf tipiku, serje ta’ antiċikluni minn naħa ta’ fuq ta’ l-Afrika jestendu biex jgħattu ħafna mill-Mediterran. Din is-sena, dawn l-antiċikluni kienu aktar b’saħħithom u persistenti mis-soltu.

• Kif se jkun it-temp fit-tul? Il-morsa li l-antiċikluni kellhom fuq il-Mediterran se issa dan is-sajf se tkompli, u b’hekk se jkompli jkollna temperaturi sħan u temp niexef. Bħal dejjem, xi jum jew tnejn b’riħ qawwi u temperaturi friski mhux esklużi. Apparti minn hekk, ma hemmx ħjiel ta’ ħarifa bikrija.

• Meta se tibda tonqos it-temperatura? Il-jiem ta’ qabel Santa Marija mistennija jaraw temperaturi massimi ta’ madwar 36 C. Minn dakinhar ‘il quddiem, it-temperaturi għandhom iżommu mal-medja għal dan iż-żmien tas-sena. Dan ifisser temperaturi sħan, imma mhux fl-estrem ta’ kemm kienu tul dawn l-aħħar xahrejn. Ħaġa importanti li rridu nżommu f’moħħna huwa l-fatt li t-tieni nofs ta’ Awwissu u Settembru kollu huma magħrufa għal livelli għoljin ta’ umdita li jkollna. Dawn iwassalu biex it-temperaturi jinħassu aktar minn li verament ikunu.

• Meta se jkollna l-ewwel xita? Mhux se jkollna xita sinifikanti fil-futur qrib. Għadu kmieni wisq biex inkunu nafu meta se taħkimna l-ewwel xita sinifikanti.

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 next week. The peak night will be the one from Monday 12/08 to Tuesday 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. This year’s Perseids will be more difficult to see as the Moon will be nearing a Full Moon https://polska-ed.com/kupic-generic-cialis/. Only the brightest of meteors will be visible, as a result. 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. A meteor shower consist 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. Il-lejl l-aktar imfittex se jkun dak ta’ bejn it-Tnejn 12/08 u t-Tlieta 13/08. B’rati ta’ madwar 80 stilla feġġejja fis-siegħa (madwar 200 stilla feġġejja fis-siegħa fi snin attivi), il-Perseids huma waħda minn l-aktar episodji ta’ stillel feġġejja attivi. Din is-sena se jkun daqsxejn aktar diffiċli biex tara dan l-ispettaklu, minħabba li l-Qamar se jkun qorob il-fażi fejn isir Qamar Kwinta. L-istillel feġġejja l-aktar qawwijin biss se jkunu jidhru minħabba dan. 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. 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’ 59 kilometru fis-siegħa. Meta jkunu fl-ispazju, dawn l-hekk imsejjħa stillel feġġejja ngħidulhom meteoriti.

The peak of the summer heat is at the door. A plume of hot to very hot air will rise from north Africa later on this week, marking the start of yet another heat spell, and possibly another heatwave. This plume will be accompanied by high humidity. This will make matters worse. Maximum temperatures will be at or above 34 C from Thursday 08/08 till Thursday 15/08. The hottest days will be the ones leading up to Santa Marija. One day with a high of up to 40 C is not excluded. Minimum temperatures will be at 25 C to 27 C. The sea surface temperature might climb to around 28 C because of this period of intense heat. The sky will be sunny or mainly sunny throughout. Winds will be mainly light and variable. The first half of August is traditionally considered the hottest part of summer. Since it coincides with the feast of Saint Lawrence, the Maltese refer to this period of intensely hot weather as ‘il-ħruq ta’ San Lawrenz’.

L-aqwa tas-sajf qiegħed wara l-bieb. Massa ta’ arja sħuna ħafna minn l-Afrika ta’ fuq se testendi lejn il-Gżejjer Maltin aktar tard din il-ġimgħa, u b’hekk timmarka l-bidu ta’ ‘heat spell’ oħra, u possibilment anke ‘heatwave’. Din l-arja sħuna se tkun akkumpanjata minn livelli għoljin ta’ umdita. Din mistennija tiggrava s-sitwazzjoni. It-temperaturi massimi se jkunu ta’ 34 C jew ogħla mill-Ħamis 08/08 sal-Ħamis 15/08. L-aktar jiem jaħarqu se jkunu dawk ta’ eżatt qabel Santa Marija. Minn ta’ l-anqas jum wieħed b’temperatura ta’ 40 C mhux eskluż. It-temperaturi minimi se jkunu bejn 25 C u 27 C. It-temperatura tal-baħar tista tilħaq 28 C minħabba dan il-perjodu ta’ sħana. Is-sema se jkun xemxi. Nistennew ukoll riħ ħafif u varjabbli. L-ewwel nofs ta’ Awwissu huwa tradizzjonalment magħruf bħala l-aktar ġranet sħan tas-sajf. Peress li jaħbat mal-festa ta’ San Lawrenz, ħafna jafuh bħala ‘l-ħruq ta’ San Lawrenz’.

We are nearing the peak of summer. The north African anticyclone, that extends north from the Sahara Desert will maintain its strong grip on the Mediterranean region. Another week of back-to-back sunshine is on the cards for the Maltese Islands brasil-libido.com. The sky will be obscured by a white haze on some days though. This is the combined effect of high relative humidity and intense heat. Temperatures will range from 32 C at the start of the week to 37 C at the weekend. Lows will vary from 23 C to 26 C over the course of this week. Because of the high relative humidity, real feels may be 4 C higher than the actual daytime temperatures. Winds will be mainly light to moderate from a predominantly west direction.

The Maltese Islands will swelter in an intense heat wave in the second half of this week, and the first half of the next. Maximum temperatures will be at or above 35 C on all days from Thursday 01/08 till Wednesday 07/08. Any hope of sleep in comfortable temperatures has evaporated too, with nighttime temperatures set to be above 25 C throughout the duration of this impending heat wave. By definition, a heatwave is a spell of three or more consecutive days with daytime highs exceeding the mean maximum temperature for that particular time of year by 5°C or more. Exactly as expected at this time of year, this heat wave will be caused by an extension of the Sahara Desert high pressure system over the central Mediterranean. This will drag very hot air from over north Africa. The relatively high humidity will push real-feel values up. They will reach 41 C at times early in the afternoon. These real-feel values can lead to some dangerous heat disorders with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity in the heat. Sea surface temperatures will rise to 27 C, over two degrees above the norm for this time of year.

The UV Index will be at an extreme 11+. This means an extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Take all precautions because unprotected skin and eyes can be damaged in minutes. UV is highest in the early afternoon.

The landscape is parched. The abundant rainfall last winter has caused grass to grow taller than normal. Because of this, some areas are covered in very tall dry grass. Many valleys are covered in reeds. The extreme heat will elevate the risk of grass fires in the coming days. As a result, The Fire Weather Index is at an extremely high level locally.

Be careful and follow these precautions to minimise the risk of any of the hazards mentioned earlier. Precautions include:

– Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. Open again when cool.

– Stay in the coolest part of any building if possible.

– Stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 4pm.

– Have cool baths or showers.

– Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water or juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.

– If outdoors, seek shade and wear protective clothing.

– Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

– Seek medical attention in case of heat-related symptoms.

– Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen and sunglasses.

– Watch out for bright surfaces, like sand and water, which reflect UV and increase exposure.

– Keep all pets and possibly stray animals in a cool area.

– Do not take pets out for walks in the sun (you may have shoes to protect your feet but their paws are in contact with the hot ground).

– Never leave anyone (including pets) in closed vehicles.

– Be more careful with materials conducive to fires (such as BBQs, cigarettes, glass disposal, garden litter etc …)

– Be careful extremely careful with fireworks, especially burning debris falling from the sky.

Remember that babies, young children, people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, the elderly and others whose job includes being physically active are at a greater risk.

Il-Gżejjer Maltin se jgħaddu minn perjodu ieħor qasir ta’ sħana qawwija ħafna tul it-tieni parti ta’ din il-ġimgħa u l-ewwel parti tal-ġimgħa li ġejja. It-temperaturi se jilħqu 35 C jew aktar fil-jiem kollha mill-Ħamis 01/08 sa l-Erbgħa 07/08. L-anqas billejl se jkunu ogħla minn 25 C matul din il-mewġa ta’ sħana. Id-definizzjoni ta’ mewġa ta’ sħana hija tlett ijiem konsekuttivi jew aktar b’temperaturi massimi li jaqbżu l-medja għal dak iż-żmien tas-sena b’5 C jew aktar. Bħal ma hu mistenni f’dan iż-żmien tas-sena, din il-mewġa ta’ sħana se tkun ikkawżata minn pressjoni għolja li se testendi minn fuq id-deżert tas-Sahara lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran. Din se ġġib magħha sħana qawwija minn fuq l-Afrika ta’ fuq. L-arja umda se twassal biex it-temperaturi jkunu jinħassu aktar sħan. L-ogħla temperaturi jafu jkunu jinħassu daqs li kieku 41 C. Dawn il-valuri jistgħu iwasslu għal xi kundizzjonijiet assoċjati ma’ sħana qawwija ħafna. Dawn jinkludu ‘heat cramps’, ‘heat exhaustion’ u ‘heat stroke’.

L-indiċi UV se tkun f’livell estrem ta’ 11+. Dan ifisser riskju estrem ta’ ħsara mix-xemx. Ħudu kull prekawzzjoni peress li ġilda u għajnejn mhux protetti jistgħu isofru ħsara f’ħin qasir. Il-UV tkun l-ogħla kmieni wara nofsinhar.

Il-kampanja bħalissa niexfa. Ix-xita abbundanti tax-xitwa li għaddiet wasslet biex il-ħaxix twal aktar minn normal. Minħabba dan, xi nħawi huma miksija b’ħaxix twil ħafna u niexef. Il-widien ikunu mimlija qasab. Is-sħana estrema se twassal biex ir-riskju ta’ nirien ikun elevat.

Oqgħodu attenti u segwu dawn il-messaġġi ta’ prekawzjonijiet biex tnaqqsu r-riskju tal-perikli msemmija hawn fuq.

– Agħlqu t-twieqi u l-blinds/shutters fl-eqqel tas-sħana. Erġa iftaħ x’ħin jiffriska.

– Oqgħodu fl-aktar parti friska tal-bini.

– Evitaw li toqgħodu fix-xemx bejn 11am u 4pm.

– Inħaslu b’ilma frisk.

– Ixorbu xarbiet kesħin ta’ spiss. Pruvaw evitaw te’, kafe’ u alkoħol.

– Jekk tkunu barra, sibu d-dell u lbsu lbies addattat, kappell u nuċċali tax-xemx.

– Iċċekjaw li qraba, ħbieb u ġirien li ma jistgħux jieħdu ħsieb tagħhom infushom, ikunu sew.

– Ikkonsulta tabib f’każ ta’ sintomi marbuta ma’ kundizzjonijiet ta’ sħana

– Użaw SPF 30% sunscreen u nuċċali tax-xemx.

– Żommu l-annimali tagħkom u anke dawk tat-triq jekk possibbli f’post frisk.

– Toħorġux lil klieb jimxi fix-xemx (intom għandkom żarbun jipproteġikom mil-art tikwi, l-annimali ma għandhomx).

– Qatt tħalli lil ħadd, inkluż annimali, f’vetturi.

– Użaw materjali fjammabbli b’aktar reqqa (bħal BBQs, sigaretti, ħġieġ, kimiċi tal-pool, skart organiku etc …).

– Oqogħdu attenti mill-logħob tan-nar.

Ftakkru li trabi, tfal żgħar, nies b’kundizzjonijiet li ma jidhrux, nisa tqal, xjuħ u nies li jaħdmu fuq barra għandhom riskju akbar.

August will be off to a sweltering start, as high pressure will cover the central Mediterranean again. The current breeze that has brought relief from the heat to many will die down. It will be replaced by a light and variable wind from late on Tuesday 30/07. Temperatures will start rising gradually from Tuesday 30/07. They will soar to 35 C + for a whole week from Thursday 01/08. Realfeels will rise into the lower 40s on some days. Nights will offer little relief from the heat too, as lows will stay in the upper 20s on most nights. The sky will be sunny or mainly sunny throughout. For this heatspell to qualify as a heatwave, maximum temperatures must exceed the average for this time of year (31.4 C) by 5 C or more for three or more consecutive days. That is a great possibility.

Il-bidu ta’ Awwissu se jixwina, hekk kif pressjoni għolja se tgħatti ċ-ċentru tal-Mediterran mill-ġdid. Iż-żiffa ħelwa li ġabet soljev mis-sħana għal ħafna se tbatti ferm. Din se tinbidel f’riħ ħafif u varjabbli minn tard it-Tlieta 30/07. It-temperaturi se jibdew telgħin gradwalment minn nhar it-Tlieta 30/07. Dawn se jilħqu, u saħansitra jaqbżu l-35 C għal ġimgħa sħiħa mill-Ħamis 01/08. It-temperaturi se jkunu jinħassu daqs li kieku fl-40 f’ċertu jiem. L-iljieli se joffru ftit li xejn soljev mis-sħana wkoll, bl-anqas temperaturi jibqgħu madwar 26 C fil-biċċa l-kbira ta’ l-iljieli. Is-sema se jkun xemxi jew il-biċċa l-kbira xemxi matul din il-ġimgħa. Biex dan il-perjodu ta’ sħana jkun jgħodd bħala heatwave, it-temperaturi massimi jridu jaqbżu l-medja għal dan iż-żmien (31.4 C) b’5 C jew aktar fuq medda ta’ minn ta’ l-anqas tlett ijiem konsekkutivvi. Din hija possibilita kbira.

A trough of low pressure will mean a breezy start to the week, with temperatures below average for this time of year for the first two days of the week. This trough of low pressure is associated with a low pressure system that is causing severe weather across large parts of Europe. From Tuesday 30/07 onward, the weather will settle down again as an anticyclone once again retakes hold of the central Mediterranean. Temperatures will increase gradually, from a 31 C on Monday 29/07 to 36 C by the weekend. Nighttime lows will increase from 23 C on Monday 29/07 to 26 C by the weekend. The wind will be rather strong from the Northwest on Monday 29/07, but will decrease  to become light to moderate from Tuesday 30/07 onward. Skies will be mainly sunny to partly cloudy with an almost negligible chance of precipitation throughout the week.