July follows June as the warmest ever

Malta could be heading for its warmest summer ever after the Meteorological Office recorded last month as the warmest July since records began over 80 years ago.

It was the second record to fall in the space of a month, following the announcement that last June was the warmest June ever, with a mean temperature of 26.1°C.

The mean temperature in July was 28.8°C, almost three degrees warmer than what is expected for the month, the Met. Office said.

The warmest July before this year's was recorded 15 years ago when the mean temperature reached was 28.1°C.

The mean temperature takes into account both the day and night temperatures of the month.

The highest temperature was reached on July 1 when the mercury level hit 39.8°C, though it was lower than the 42.7°C highest temperature ever recorded for the month, which occurred on July 9, 1988.

The nights were also very warm with an average minimum temperature of 23.9°C, also about three degrees higher than the average for July.

The lowest temperature recorded at the Malta International Airport Met. Office last month was 21°C on July 9.

A major reason for the high temperatures was the absence of winds due to the fact that the centre of a strong anticyclone or zone of high pressure extending from the area of the Azores Islands in the Atlantic swept across Malta.

In fact for 16 per cent of the time the air was perfectly calm, when normally it is calm for only four per cent of the time during the month.

Ninety-three per cent of the time the wind over Malta was light or calm compared to 77 per cent over the previous years.

This month has been the third month running when winds in the Mediterranean have been exceptionally light, and this was a major factor contributing to the three degree rise in the sea temperature around Malta.

The sea temperature rises were recorded mainly through the energy derived from sunlight, and during these last three months, the sea surface layers of the Central and Northern Mediterranean were not thoroughly stirred up by strong Northwesterly winds.

Forecasters said the Mediterranean was experiencing the hottest weather for more than 200 years, with swimmers enjoying sea temperatures similar to those in the Caribbean.

The immense heat has pushed the electricity grid to its limit as people crank up their air conditioners, and switch their refrigerators to full power. The demand for power has often led to blackouts. Only last week, Enemalta Corporation reported a record electricity demand of 394 megawatts for summer.

The corporation said that such a demand was 7.3 per cent higher than the record for a summer, registered last year on August 6, when the demand had reached 367 megawatts.

Much of Europe, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and from Britain to central Europe, has been sweltering through unusually long heat waves.

Germany has not seen such an extended period of dry weather and sunny days since records began 130 years ago.

Forest fires hit France, Portugal, Russia and Croatia earlier this week, killing people in the process.

In most parts of Italy, temperatures have hovered around the mid-30s every day for two months.

On a cooler note though, this weekend should bring some welcome temperatures in Malta with forecasts of 29°C and showers.