As August draws to a close, many in Malta are beginning to wonder when the island will finally get its first proper taste of autumn rain.

According to an analysis by Maltese Islands Weather, the typical date for the first significant post-summer rainfall or thunderstorm episode is around 9th September. The analysis looked at 26 years of weather data, from 2000 to 2025, focusing on meaningful rainfall events rather than isolated showers or a few drops.

The timing, however, can vary considerably from year to year. In some years, the first autumn rains arrived remarkably early, with significant rainfall recorded as early as 1st September in 2002. The 2nd of September brought the first notable rainfall in 2012, 2013 and 2019, while 2001 and 2008 saw their first significant episodes on 3 September.

Other years kept Malta waiting much longer. The first proper rainfall arrived on 25th September in 2007, 26th September in 2011, 22nd September in 2022 and around 28th September in 2025.

This means that, as of 23rd August, Malta is still roughly two weeks away from its typical first significant autumn rainfall.

However, an isolated August shower does not necessarily signal the end of summer. The seasonal transition occurs when atmospheric conditions begin to favour more organised and widespread instability across the region.

And while the arrival of rain marks a change in weather patterns, it does not necessarily mean cooler temperatures. With the Mediterranean Sea remaining very warm, air temperatures tend to decrease only gradually as autumn progresses.

Are you waiting eagerly for Malta’s first rainfall?