Slightly colder but with higher than average rainfall

With a total of 12 rainy days, the wettest day (with hail) was the 20th of the month with a total of 27.8 mm, followed by the 19th with 7.4 mm. The highest March rainfall on record occurred in 1925 with a total of 178.0 mm, while the driest one was that of 1977 with just 0.40 mm.

Last month we had more than the average share of days with thunderstorm, which were the 1st, 16th and 20th.

The mean temperature registered by Malta Airport MetOffice last month was 13 degrees C which is slightly lower than the climate norm by 0.4 degrees C. The warmest March since 1923 was that of 2001 with 16.9 degrees C, while the coolest was that of 1953 with a mean temperature of 11.4 degrees C. The mean maximum temperature of 16.4 degrees C registered last month at Luqa Airport was also lower than the climate norm by 0.3 degrees C. Particularly striking was the period between the 8th and 10th of March, when the days were colder than the norm by around 4 degrees C.

A mean relative humidity of 80% was recorded last March. This value is 1% higher than the average March mean. The most humidity registered in March since 1951 were those of 1969 and 1972 with a value of 86%. There were two days when the visibility at Luqa airport dropped to less than a kilometre, which were the 5th and 28th of March.

The sea temperature last month was 15.4 degrees C or 0.4 degrees C warmer than average.

With regards to the wind, 73% consisted of light winds. The average wind speed was 7.3 knots and the most frequent direction was the Northwest by West. On March 8th we experienced the strongest gust for the month which was 31 knots from the Northwest.

We had an average of 6 hours and 43 minutes of bright sunshine a day. The brightest March was that of 1947 with an average of 8 hours and 58 minutes of bright sunshine.