August with warmer days than climate norm

This temperature is less than the record high of 43.8ºC registered on August 9th, 1999. Still, the mean maximum temperature last month was above the climate norm by 1ºC, making it slightly warmer.

A total of three (3) heat advisories were issued by the Malta Airport MetOffice to the Health Authorities on the 19th, 20th and 21st of August when the air temperature was expected to reach more than 35ºC.

The lowest temperature – 19.2°C, was recorded on August 15th, while the mean minimum temperature was 21.9ºC, which is very close to the climate norm for the month of August. The coolest August night was that of August 27th in 1972 with a low of 15.9°C.

The average sea surface temperature was 26.8°C, or 1.3°C higher than the average value for August since 1978. The mean relative humidity last month was 65% which is less than the climate norm.

The wind speed, averaging 5.5 knots was 1.4 knots less than expected for last month. For 92% of the time it was in the light speed bracket (1-10 knots). The NorthWest by West was the most frequent direction. On August 9th the maximum gust reached 29 knots from the same direction.

No precipitation was recorded at Malta International Airport throughout August, which makes it below the August climate norm of 7mm. The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded at the airport in August was in 1964 with a total of 155.5mm. No thunder was registered at Malta International Airport. In August of 1964, a record high of nine thundery days were registered.

Last August we had an average of 11 hours and 29 minutes of sunshine a day, which is slightly more than the climate norm.