Air temperature last month exceeded climate norm

Last month's average air temperature of 25.2°C exceeded the climate norm by 1.1°C, the Meteorological Office said.

It said the highest temperature was registered on September 3 and 4 when it reached 34.8°C - 6.8°C more than the 30-year climate norm.

This was followed by a drop in air temperature during the latter part of the month. Between the 20th and 30th, the maximum temperature registered a downward trend to go below the climate norm of 28°C.

The highest temperature ever recorded since 1947 was on September 26 1990 when it reached 37.4°C.

The lowest temperature last September was 17.9°C on September 20. The coolest September night was on September 22, 1969 with a low of 13.2°C.

The average sea surface temperature was 26.4°C. This is 1.6°C higher than the average value for July since 1978.

The mean relative humidity last month was 71 per cent, which is lower than the 30-year mean climate average of 77 per cent. Just 7.4 mm of rainfall was recorded at Malta International Airport, which is less than the climate norm of 40.4mm for September.

Last September had an average of nine hours and two minutes of sunshine a day, 20 minutes more than the September norm.

The wind speed in September averaged 6.4 knots and was less than expected during a typical September. The northwest by west was the most frequent direction.

On September 20 a maximum wind gust of 35 knots was recorded from the west by north direction.

The highest wind gust measured at Malta International Airport during the month of September since 1947 was 56 knots, on September 7, 1978.

There was one day with thunderstorms, on the 26th, and fog was observed on the 3rd, which reduced the visibility to 100m at Malta International Airport.