Malta avoids Arctic chill, with a warmer-than-usual weekend ahead

The Met Office has forecast a warmer-than-usual weekend for Malta, with chilly temperatures unlikely.

“At present, we are not expecting to see any significant drop in temperatures due to an Arctic Airmass,” the Met Office said.

This comes after several European countries are expected to experience a vast circulation of cold air above the Arctic, with meteorologists monitoring an unusually early weakening of the polar vortex, raising the possibility of colder weather across parts of Europe, North America and Asia in the weeks ahead.

An Arctic air mass is a large body of cold, dry air that forms over the Arctic. In Malta, the Met Office expects highs of 23°C to 24°C on 14 and 15 November, compared with the usual 21°C. Lows are forecast to range from 17°C to 18°C, above the usual 15°C.

Speaking to MaltaToday, the MET office said it expects fine weather through Friday, with light to moderate winds and temperatures ranging from 19°C to 26°C. It linked those conditions to a low-pressure area extending from the Atlantic towards the Bay of Biscay and Libya.

Frost forecast in parts of Europe

In France, weather service La Chaîne Météo expects polar air to move in from the north on Thursday and reach the south on Friday. It forecasts a drop of 7°C to 10°C in afternoon temperatures between Wednesday and Saturday, with frost in several regions on Saturday morning before milder air returns on Sunday.

Germany’s weather service forecasts Saturday highs of 4°C to 9°C, with overnight lows of -5°C in some areas. The UK Met Office expects overnight frost at the start of the weekend, followed by wetter and windier weather as rain moves in from the Atlantic. In Italy, the national weather service expects temperatures to stay above seasonal averages through Sunday.

A disruption can raise the chance of cold spells in parts of northern and central Europe in the weeks ahead, though its effects can take several weeks to reach the lower atmosphere.

Malta’s Met Office said the weekend forecast could still change and advised readers to check its website for updates