According to the Met Office, the gale-force winds brought by Storm Harry are expected to ease significantly later this afternoon. From around 6pm, wind speeds should start dropping quickly, becoming moderate by around 9pm. Winds will continue shifting to the west-southwest, remaining moderate to rather strong for the rest of the evening.

At the moment, Storm Harry’s low-pressure system is sitting over the Gulf of Gabès, off the coast of Tunisia, and is expected to move northwards throughout the day. As it does, wind strength across the Maltese Islands should continue to decrease, especially overnight.

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There’s more good news too: the red weather warning has been downgraded to orange. That said, authorities are still urging the public to stay away from coastal areas and other exposed spots, as conditions can remain dangerous. The warning is currently in place until 8pm, and may be extended if needed.

As for the rest of today, expect mostly cloudy skies, with some rain showers and dust lingering in the air.

Earlier this morning, the strongest wind gust recorded reached a hefty 50 knots, measured just after 7am by the Meteorological Office – a clear reminder of how intense conditions have been.

Looking ahead, cloudy weather is set to stick around over the next few days, with the chance of isolated showers. Winds could briefly pick up again on Thursday, while the dust in the air is expected to gradually clear on Wednesday, with air quality improving fully by Friday.

Hang in there, it looks like the worst of it is finally behind us!