Unusually warm sea temperatures expected for Mnarja weekend

Sea temperatures are forecast to reach 28°C over the Mnarja weekend, bringing unusually warm swimming conditions on 29 and 30 June.

A forecast report by MCAST Professor Aldo Drago indicates that the warmest waters will stretch from Mellieħa Bay to Bengħajsa Reef near Birżebbuġa by early afternoon on Mnarja Day, while slightly cooler temperatures are expected in the waters south of Gozo.

Sea temperatures forecast for the end of June are around 4°C higher than averages from the last 30 years, with daily observations indicating that throughout June temperatures have risen by an exceptional 1°C every five days.

Seasonal forecasts suggest that further periods of elevated temperatures are likely during the upcoming summer months, although the first few days of July are expected to bring short-term relief from the elevated temperatures.

Drago said such marine heatwaves have become increasingly common in recent years, with similar anomalies recorded in June 2025 pointing to a broader warming trend across the Mediterranean.

The report added that rising sea temperatures are a clear sign of climate change’s impact on the marine environment, affecting coastal habitats by placing additional stress on ecosystems and altering ecological processes.

Drago said continued sea temperature monitoring will be important as summer progresses, particularly to assess the potential effects on Malta’s marine ecosystems, coastal activities, fisheries, and maritime operations.

Maritime conditions can be monitored through MCAST’s ROSARIO marine forecasting system, which provides forecasts up to five days ahead via the STREAM portal at www.stream-srf.com.