Abundant lightning activity last night provided reader Andrea Muscat with an opportunity to take some interesting photos.

Mr Muscat said the isolated thunderstorm in the midst of summer could be an indication of what awaits once this hotter than average summer came to an end.

Yesterday's hot spell was followed by an area of cold air from central Europe which on coming into contact with the hot and humid air mass over the central Mediterranean formed a trough of low pressure over Tunisia.

A number of isolated thunderstorms formed along the trough and the exceptionally warm sea was enough to maintain some of the thunderstorms, which, after affecting Pantelleria and Lampedusa, skimmed past the Maltese Islands.

Photo: Andrea Muscat

Only a little light rain was recorded on land but a heavy rain shower missed Malta by a few kilometres as it passed off the northeast coast. 

So far, this summer resembled those of 2003 and 2012, both of which were characterised by frequent spells of intense heat. The sea surface temperature reached record heights in both years and both summers were brought to an end by major thunderstorm events.

With more spells of intense heat being envisaged for the rest of this year’s summer, the sea surface temperature is likely to continue rising. As a result, a realistic chance of experiencing a similar major thunderstorm this time round was a possibility.