Summer 2026 has officially come to an end, meteorologically speaking, leaving behind a string of remarkable weather records and an extended spell of heat and dryness across the Maltese Islands.

According to Maltese Islands Weather, August 2026 was the hottest August ever recorded locally by mean temperature, with the monthly average reaching around 30°C. This surpassed the previous August record of 29.3°C, set in 1999.

While August was defined by persistent heat, July brought more extreme temperatures. On 18th July, Malta International Airport recorded 43.3°C – the highest July temperature ever measured in Malta and just 0.5°C below the national all-time record of 43.8°C. For the first time in local meteorological records, temperatures also reached or exceeded 42°C for three consecutive days.

The heat extended well into the night, with sea-surface temperatures reaching around 31°C during August, contributing to warm and humid conditions after sunset. The prolonged absence of the strong northwesterly winds that typically bring cooler, drier air also played a role. These winds normally help mix the upper layers of the sea, bringing cooler water to the surface, while their absence allowed the Mediterranean to retain and accumulate heat.

High humidity further increased discomfort, with apparent temperatures at times approaching 50°C.

The summer was also exceptionally dry. By August, the Islands had experienced more than 100 days without significant rainfall, increasing pressure on soil moisture and vegetation.

With meteorological autumn beginning on 1st September, Summer 2026 joins other notable years such as 1999, 2003, 2012 and 2023 in Malta’s history of extreme heat. Yet perhaps its defining feature was not simply how hot it became, but how persistently the heat remained.

Do you think the worst of the summer heat is over?