August was slightly warmer than the norm, but well off the record

The average temperature in August was slightly higher than the norm, although well off the record set in 1999, the Met Office said today.

The highest temperature recorded at Malta International Airport last month was on August 20^th with a maximum of 36^oC. This temperature was less than the record high of 43.8^oC registered on August 9^th, 1999. Still, the mean maximum temperature last month was above the climate norm by 1^oC, making it slightly warmer, the Met Office said.

The lowest temperature last month, 19.2°C, was recorded on August 15^th, while the mean minimum temperature was 21.9^oC, which was very close to the climate norm for the month of August. The coolest August night was that of August 27^th in 1972 with a low of 15.9°C. 

The average sea surface temperature was 26.8°C, or 1.3°C higher than the average value for August since 1978. The mean relative humidity last month was 65% which is less than the climate norm. 

The wind speed, averaging 5.5 knots was 1.4 knots less than expected for last month. For 92% of the time it was in the light speed bracket (1-10 knots). The NorthWest by West was the most frequent direction. On August 9^th the maximum gust reached 29 knots from the same direction. 

No rain was recorded at Malta International Airport throughout August, which made it below the August climate norm of 7mm. The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded at the airport in August was in 1964 with a total of 155.5mm. No thunder was registered at Malta International Airport. In August of 1964, a record high of nine  thundery days were registered. 

Last August we had an average of 11 hours and 29 minutes of sunshine a day, which was slightly more than the climate norm.