July heat ‘above norm’

Last month's average air temperature of 28.5°C exceeded the climate norm of 25.9°C by 2.6°C.

From the 9th to the 12th the maximum temperature was 5°C or more above normal and this qualified as a heat wave.

Three consecutive days were relatively cooler when the maximum temperature dropped below the mean of 30.7°C on the 23 July when the maximum temperature was 30.3°C, on the 24th when the maximum temperature was 28.3°C and on the 25th with a maximum temperature of 30.1°C.

After the 25th the maximum temperature started to increase again and reached a peak of 37.6°C on the 29th.

The highest temperature last month - 40.7 °C - was reached on 11th July. This is 10°C above the norm. The highest ever recorded maximum temperature for July is 42.7°C and this was recorded on 9th July 1988.

The lowest temperature last month was 21.1°C on the 24th. The coolest July night was on 2nd July 1923 with a low of 13.9°C.

July had an average of 12 hours and 12 minutes of sunshine a day, 24 minutes more than the July norm.

The average sea surface temperature was 26.6°C. This was 2.5°C higher than the average value for July.

The mean relative humidity last month was 64% which is lower than the 30-year mean climate average of 69%.

Only a trace rainfall was recorded at Malta Airport Met Office, which is less than the climate norm of 0.4mm for July. No bad weather was observed at the airport although thundery showers were observed north of Gozo on the 22nd and 23rd.

The wind speed this month, averaging 6.7 knots was slightly less than expected during a typical July. For 87% of the time it was in the light speed bracket (1-10 knots). The Northwest was the most frequent direction.

On July 23rd, a maximum wind gust of 27 knots was recorded from the Northwest by North. The highest wind gust measured at Malta Airport during the month of July since 1947 was 47 knots, recorded on July 2nd, 1954.

Once again, the Malta Airport MetOffice urges the public to be more attentive to the UV Index forecasts as these are reaching high levels.

More information is available on our webpage: www.maltairport.com/weather