The highest temperature recorded at Luqa Airport last month was 36°C on the 21st, the Meteorological Office said.

This is lower than the record high of 43.8°C registered on August 9, 1999. But the mean maximum temperature last month was above the climate norm by almost a degree, making it a warmer month.

Three heat advisories were issued by the office to the health authorities on days when the air temperature was expected to reach more than 35°C.

The lowest temperature was 19.6°C recorded on August 8. The mean minimum temperature last month was 22.8°C, one degree higher than the climate norm for the month. The coolest August night was August 27 1972 with a low of 15.9°C.

The average sea surface temperature was 26.1°C, or 0.6°C higher than the average value for August since 1978. The mean relative humidity last month was 65 per cent which is less than the climate norm for August.

August had an average of 11 hours and 30 minutes of sunshine a day, slightly more than the climate norm.