Hold on tight! North-Northeast ‘grigal’ winds intensify over Malta, creating a ‘rain shadow effect’
You may have noticed a recent increase in winds across Malta, and particularly cold ones at that - you're not imagining it! The north to northeast winds have intensified as forecast, reaching Force 7 gusts and generating a significant swell in the seas, causing suspension of ferry services to and from Valletta today.
Northerly winds, which are relatively rare over the Maltese Islands, bring a range of meteorological effects, including sharp cold temperatures and excellent visibility. According to Maltese Islands Weather, these winds also create what's known as a rain shadow effect.
This occurs when air moving from the north towards the Maltese Islands encounters Mount Etna in Sicily. At 3,326 metres above sea level, the volcano’s elevated terrain forces the air to rise and condense, creating rain-bearing clouds over Sicily’s northern and eastern coasts. Precipitation falls here, causing the moisture in the clouds to be lost. Since the distance between Sicily and Malta is too short for the air to replenish its moisture, the rain shadow effect results in little to no rain over Malta when these northerly winds prevail.
However, this doesn't mean that no rain is expected in the coming days. The northeasterly winds can still bring rain clouds from the Ionian Sea to the east of the islands. So, if you're located on the eastern side of Malta, you're more likely to experience rain in the coming days!
Have you been feeling the recent, chillier winds?