If you thought summer was starting to cool down, think again! The final week of August will be maintaining that sticky, humid heat across Malta and Gozo right till the very end, with real feel temperatures climbing to a sweaty 39°C at times.
A high-pressure system, also known as an anti-cyclone, is currently dominating the central Mediterranean, but from Tuesday 26th August, this will shift slightly eastwards. This will place the Maltese Islands under southerly air currents, dragging in warmer and more humid weather – the kind that makes the heat feel even heavier than the thermometer shows.
Expect mostly sunny days throughout the week, although the second half of the week will feel noticeably more humid. The UV index remains high at 8 to 9, so extra sun protection is a must if you’re spending time outdoors.
The week starts off with light north-westerly winds (Force 3–4) on Monday 25th, shifting to a south-westerly breeze (Force 2–3) on Tuesday. By Wednesday, winds will come directly from the south (Force 2–3), pulling in warmer air.
From Thursday into Friday, the breeze will pick up, turning into moderate south-easterly winds (Force 4–5), which will add a humid feel across the islands. Saturday will still see light to moderate SE winds (Force 3–4) before calming down to light, variable breezes (Force 2–3) on Sunday.
Daytime highs will remain around 31 to 32°C, which is typical for this time of year. However, once humidity kicks in, it will feel closer to 39°C, especially later in the week. Nighttime lows will sit between 22–24°C, making evenings warm and muggy.
Meanwhile, the sea is currently holding steady at 27°C, but it has started to cool slightly as we move closer to September.
So, while the calendar might be inching closer to autumn, the weather across the islands is still very much in summer mode, and a sweaty one at that! Stay hydrated, use plenty of sunscreen, and if possible, plan your beach trips earlier in the day to beat the peak heat.
Planning any beach trips this week?