As the final week before astronomical summer begins – officially starting on Saturday 21st June – Malta has already been basking in full-on summer heat for the past two weeks. But in a twist of seasonal irony, the week that welcomes summer may also bring a few unexpected showers!

The beginning of this week will bring even more sun and heat, with the real feel temperature expected to hit a whopping 39°C tomorrow, Tuesday 17th June.

But at the midweek point, things will begin to shift. A pool of cold air currently sitting over northern Italy is on the move, heading toward the central Mediterranean. As it arrives, it’s expected to destabilise the atmosphere over the Maltese Islands, Sicily, and surrounding regions.

Between Wednesday and early Saturday, we can expect the formation of dense cumuliform clouds, mainly over central parts of Malta around midday. These may trigger very localised showers, and possibly even isolated thunderstorms.

But here’s the catch – the rain won’t be widespread. In classic Maltese fashion, it could be sunny in Valletta and pouring in Żebbuġ. The showers may be heavy where they do occur, but they will likely be short-lived and confined to limited areas.

Temperatures are expected to be taking a small dip too, with Wednesday and Thursday's maximum's forecast to reach 29°C - about 5°C less than the past few days. 

Despite the brief instability, late afternoons and early mornings are expected to be mostly clear, meaning most wedding receptions, parties, and evening events should remain unaffected – phew! The weather is expected to stabilise again by Saturday, with typical summer sunshine making its return, right on the day that summer officially begins.

Are you hoping for some summer rain?