Last month was the wettest October since 2010, with precipitation being more than twice the norm for the month, the MIA Met office said.

"The total amount of precipitation for October 2018 amounted to 189.0 mm, which was more than double the trend of 75.6 mm according to the 30-year climate norm. This value is the official amount of precipitation measured in Luqa," the Met Office said. 

In October 2010, 230.0mm of precipitation were collected, but the wettest October on record remains October 1951, with a total of 476.5 mm of rain.

October 2018 did, however, go down on record as the stormiest October with 16 thundery days. This record was previously shared by two months: October 1962 and November 1986, both of which had 12 thundery days.

Most of the inclement weather experienced in October was caused by low-pressure systems over the Mediterranean, which also affected the Maltese islands.

For instance, the wettest day last October was the second day of the month, resulting from a low-pressure system over Corsica which moved in a southerly direction. This was a typical Mediterranean cyclone, which formed over the Gulf of Genoa and then propagated.

Similarly, on October 31, the Maltese islands experienced thunderstorms and a prolonged period of precipitation due to a trough of low pressure extending from the Bay of Biscay towards the Central Mediterranean. Similar situations of unstable air masses and low pressures over the Mediterranean affected the Maltese islands throughout the month, giving rise to thunderstorms and prolonged periods of precipitation.