Have you noticed that the skies have been more hazy than usual? It’s not just you! The Maltese Islands Weather page has taken the time to explain this phenomenon to anyone who might be wondering what happened to the clear blue skies we’re used to seeing in summer.

Although it’s usual in Malta to occasionally experience a day or two with fine dust in the air, due to the islands’ proximity to the Sahara Desert, having it occur almost everyday is quite out of the ordinary. This seems to be happening because of the instability of the atmospheric pressure the Maltese Islands and the desert region, causing the currents over the desert to remain active.

The low pressure passing over the desert region collects airborne sand and brings it to the Maltese Islands, creating a reddish hue in the sky that is often most visible at sunset. Unfortunately, aside from beautiful sunsets, increased dust in the air can also cause respiratory issues and aggravate allergies.

The haziness seen on an almost daily basis right now is also caused by the dust in the air – when this dust meets the water vapour evaporated from the sea, clouds form, causing this mist when at lower levels, or an overcast sky when occurring higher up in the sky.

Luckily, the north-westerly wind the islands have been experiencing recently help to break up these trapped ‘clouds’ made from fine dust and water vapor. That’s one reason to celebrate the windy days!

Have you noticed the hazy skies recently?