One of the driest Septembers

Last month was one of the driest on record - only one other September in the past 30 years, that of 2004, was drier, according to the Met Office at the Malta International Airport (MIA).

A total of 30.2 mm of rain fell at the airport, the average rainfall in September being 49.9 mm.

The wettest day was September 25 with 23.8 mm measured during a thunderstorm at the airport and more than twice this amount (48.8 mm) at Xewkija.

The wettest September on record was that of 1997 with 266.9 mm and the driest that of 1943, a completely dry month.

At 71 per cent, last month's average values of relative humidity were lower, by five percentage points, than the average of the past 30 years. Although September may seem to be the most humid month, there are seven months that are more humid, the worst being December and January.

September days with an average temperature of 28.8°C were slightly warmer than average, by almost half a degree.

The warmest day was September 19 when the temperature peaked at 33.7°C. The coolest was September 25 with a high of only 25.9°C. The hottest September days on record were those of September 9 and 10 in 1924, when the mercury hit 38.9°C.

Concerning the wind, last month was quite a lively one with almost one in four days being in the moderate to rather strong speed bracket.