February of this year was windier but drier, Malta Airport’s MetOffice said in its monthly weather review.

It said that the average wind speed was of 10.7 knots with a gust reaching 36 knots from the west southwest direction being registered on the 7th.

There were five days when the mean wind speed reached force 6 or there was strong wind for at least one hour.

A total 51.7mm of rain was registered at Malta Airport, less than the climate norm of 61.3 mm. The wettest day was the 12^th with 16.3mm. The highest rainfall amount for February since 1947 was 187.9mm in 1965.

Thunder and hail were also a predominant weather factor for February. Thunder was recorded on the 7^th, 8^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th whilst hail occurred on the 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, and 26^th of February. These are more than the climate norm for February which is one day for hail and three days for thunder.