Airport and Gozo ferry services were temporarily suspended yesterday as Malta was caught in the centre of a cyclone with heavy rain and strong gusts of wind.

Gozo Channel and Malta International Airport suspended all movements for some time. Just after 9pm MIA said all operations had resumed and was striving to bring operations back to normal.

The meteorological office was not excluding the bad weather would last until this morning as the cyclone “got stuck”, circling the island, and moving away at a very slow rate.

Average wind speed was 35 knots, reaching up to 60 knots.

It uprooted trees across the island, compounding the traffic jams that formed as people returned home from work.

In Mosta, a large tree fell on to the traffic lights causing a tailback all the way to Naxxar and Attard. Another large tree fell right in the middle of the road, blocking Sir Paul Boffa Avenue, in Paola.

Uprooted trees littered the island but no serious injuries were reported, according to the Civil Protection Department.

A high tension cable close to Għargħur church snapped and fell to the ground and electricity cables were seen hanging low in the middle of the road on the way to St Thomas bay, in Marsascala.

A billboard also toppled over, blocking northbound lanes on the St Paul’s Bay bypass.

According to weather websites, the storm formed off the east coast of Sicily, which was on high alert yesterday and people were told not to leave home.

As international media was spreading news of “a very dangerous tropical cyclone”, the meteorological office in Malta initially told Times of Malta it would not provide the press with information without the blessing of the department head. The newspaper pointed out it was only trying to keep the public informed but it was asked to call again later so staff could check whether information could be provided.

Meanwhile, news of the storm and traffic jams spread across social media with drivers stuck in cars uploading photos and videos from all over the island, attempting to warn others of floods and collisions.

Most thoroughfares were congested with people taking hours to reach their homes.

One driver said it took him an hour to get from Swatar to Mater Dei Hospital and another posted it took as long to get from Rue d’Argens to Msida Circle.

The main road between Żejtun and Marsascala was hazardous for drivers as it fell in complete darkness.

“It was terrifying at times,” a motorist said after driving from Valletta to Mellieħa.