A heavy downpour was an unexpected way to mark the start of summer, with roads heavily flooded in parts of the island.

People in summer shoes found it easier to take them off and walk barefoot, while office workers looked in dismay at the skies thinking about their laundry hanging outside.

The rain was at first localised to the centre of the island, with some areas still reporting blue skies. Sicily has also been badly hit, with flooding reported in Caltanisetta on Wednesday.

The downpour had been forecast for a few days but hardly anyone expected it to be such an unseasonable way to start the summer.

The Meteorological Office forecasts partly cloudy weather for Friday.

Send your photos to mynews@timesofmalta.com

Mriehel.

Birkirkara Bypass.

Msida Valley.

The traffic lights at the Mriehel junction were not working.

Water reached the top step of the Atrium in Mriehel.

Birkirkara.