Climate of the Maltese Islands

Mr. T. Tonna

Index1) Key Terms

2) Introduction of Climate

3) Overview of the Maltese Climate

4) Temperature

5) Rainfall

6) Thunderstorms

7) Wind

8) Pressure

9) Relative Humidity

10)Hours of Sunshine

11)Summary

Mr. T. Tonna

Key Terms Temperature Rainfall Thunderstorms Wind Pressure Relative Humidity Hours of Sunshine

Mr. T. Tonna

Introduction to ClimateClimate is a measure of the

average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation and other meteorological variables over long periods of time.

Climate is different from weather, in that weather only describes the short-term conditions of these variables in a given region.

Mr. T. Tonna

Climate is determined by:

Latitudinal position Relation to neighbouring

land and sea massesAtmospheric conditionsSurface reliefRelation to prevailing air

streams

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Overview of the Maltese ClimateMalta's weather and climate are strongly influenced

by the sea and have a very characteristic Mediterranean flavour.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short, cool winters with adequate rainfall. Nearly three-fourths of the total annual rainfall of about 600 millimetres (24 inches) falls between October and March; June, July, and August are normally quite dry.

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

TemperatureMean monthly temperatures (MMT) – a rise between

January and August and then a drop between September to December

MMT – range from 12.30C to 26.30C

Lowest mean maximum temp - February

Highest mean max temperature – July

Highest extreme temp – 9th August 1999 (43.80C)

Lowest extreme temp – 29 January 1981 (1.40C)

Mr. T. Tonna

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE THERE IS A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF THE

MALTESE ISLAND. NOTE DOWN THE FOLLOWING:

1. THE HOTTEST MONTH(S)2. THE COOLEST MONTH(S)

3. ANY SURPRISESUSE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS

Average Monthly Temperature:

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

RainfallThe highest precipitation

generally between October and February

December – highest mean rainfall.

July – driest month

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE THERE IS A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE

MONTHLY RAINFALL OF THE MALTESE ISLAND. NOTE DOWN THE

FOLLOWING:1. THE DRIEST MONTH(S)

2. THE WETTEST MONTH(S) 3. ANY SURPRISES

USE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS

Mr. T. Tonna

ThunderstormsThunderstorms are produced by cumulonimbus clouds

and are known for lightning and thunder. Short duration.Able to produce strong wind gusts and heavy rainfallIn Malta a thunderstorm is only categorised when it is

heard at Luqa Airport (NSO 2011).Average: 29.3 days with thunderstorms spread unevenly

throughout the year.

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE

AMOUNT OF THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN MAY-JULY AND AUGUST-

OCTOBER?

USE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS WHERE NECESSARY!

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Flood waters and damage on 25th October 2010

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WindsOnly 7.7% - calm daysRest have wind speeds between 1.8 to 39km/hr (mean)Most common wind – North-westerly ‘il-Majjistral’ (19%

of the days in a year)From January to May there are predominantly westerlies

with an increase of the easterlies from February to April June, July and August – wind directions are more constant

with less variations but the southerlies are more hot and humid;

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE THERE IS A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE MONTHLY WIND STRNGTH OF THE

MALTESE ISLAND. NOTE DOWN THE FOLLOWING:

1. THE WINDIEST MONTH(S)2. THE CALMEST MONTH(S)

3. ANY SURPRISESUSE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS

Mr. T. Tonna

Atmospheric PressureAverage pressure is 1,016.5mb.Ranges from 1,014.9mb to 1,018.3mb. Highest variation is observed during JanuaryThe highest air pressure values of 1,029.1mb was

reached during January.

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

DURING WHAT PART OF THE YEAR WOULD YOU EXPECT TO FIND ANTI-CYCLONIC SYSTEMS FORMING OVER THE MALTESE ISLANDS?

DURING WHAT PART OF THE YEAR WOULD YOU EXPECT TO FIND DEPRESSION SYSTEMS FORMING OVER THE MALTESE ISLANDS

Relative Humidity Humidity shows how

much water is in the air.Minimum of 61 per cent

in JulyMaximum of 87 per cent

in January.Explains the formation of

Clouds and Fog

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE THERE IS A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE

MONTHLY HUMIDITY OF THE MALTESE ISLAND. NOTE DOWN THE FOLLOWING:

1. THE MOST HUMID MONTH(S)2. THE LEAST HUMID MONTH(S)

3. ANY SURPRISES

USE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS

Mr. T. Tonna

Hours of Sunshine The Malta Airport Met

Office measures the number of hours with bright sunshine by means of a Campbell-Stokes recorder.

Follows a seasonal trendJuly has the highest monthly

mean records of sunshine hours

December has the lowest monthly mean records of sunshine hours

Mr. T. Tonna

Mr. T. Tonna

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE THERE IS A DIAGRAM SHOWIN THE AVERAGE MONTHLY HOURS OF SUNSHINE

RECEIVED BY THE MALTESE ISLAND. NOTE DOWN THE FOLLOWING:1. THE ‘’SUNNIEST’ MONTH2. THE ‘DARKEST’ MONTH

3. ANY SURPRISESUSE FIGURES IN YOUR ANSWERS

Mr. T. Tonna

SummaryMaltese Climate is generalised has having hot dry

summers and cool wet winters.Summer months are characterised by hot

temperatures, low rainfall, lower humidity and calmer winds.

Winters are known for being very wet and cool with extremely high humidity and strong winds.

The Climate of Malta is strictly Mediterranean.

Mr. T. Tonna

VERY IMPORTANT

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