September storms hit Malta, but rainfall still below monthly average

Thundery showers swept across Malta on Friday morning, sending temperatures down by 7°C in the space of an hour, with more rain expected over the coming days as rainfall recorded so far this month remains at less than half the September average.

During Friday morning’s thunderstorm, temperatures dropped from 26°C to 19°C within just one hour, between 8am and 9am, bringing them below September’s mean minimum temperature of 21.2°C.

Many people likely encountered thunderstorms on their way to work, which the Met Office said were caused by an area of low pressure moving towards the eastern Mediterranean. This created instability in the atmosphere, resulting in showers and thunderstorms across the islands.

However, according to the Met Office, Malta has so far still recorded less than half the average September rainfall, with 28.4mm measured so far this month compared to the monthly average of 59.2mm. 

Forecasts predict a short-lived break from the rain on Saturday, with temperatures hovering around 30°C.

Rain is expected to return on Sunday, with further showers and thunderstorms forecast over the following days. By Thursday, temperatures are expected to reach highs of around 26°C and lows of 21°C.

In short, it might be time to pull the raincoats out from the back of the wardrobe, and keep your plans for Independence Day on Monday indoors.

The Met Office explained that, while rain is expected to continue later in the weekend and into next week, showers will likely remain highly localised.

Given the small size of the Maltese Islands, some areas may receive considerably more rain than others, meaning rainfall totals can vary significantly between weather stations and localities.

More information can be found on the Met Office’s website.