Climate Malta
In terms of average air and sea temperatures as well as sunshine, Malta has the best scores in Europe. This makes it an ideal destination all year round and even during the winter when much of Europe starts to shiver. While spring is still the ideal season because the temperatures are already very mild and the landscapes are still green, especially in Gozo, summer is perfect for swimming, enjoying the entertainment and attending the many neighbourhood or village festivities. Winter and autumn will allow you to enjoy hiking and discover the archipelago in peace and quiet, sheltered from the biggest tourist flows. As for water sports, which amateurs can rest assured, Malta can be their playground all year round. And as a corollary pleasure, light clothing will be the order of the day all year round.
3,000 hours of sunshine
Malta's climate is Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. However, the sea winds and the narrow streets of the towns and villages make the heat sometimes a little more bearable. The average annual temperature is around 23 degrees during the day and 16 degrees at night, making it one of the warmest average temperatures in Europe. The thermometer reaches its peak during the period from mid-July to mid-September with peaks of 35 to 40 degrees during the day in August and lows of 20 to 24 degrees at night. And in winter, the island also experiences beautiful temperatures, which only drop to an average of 16 degrees during the day and 10 degrees at night in January. To complete this rather promising picture, the Maltese archipelago enjoys around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, which once again places it among the highest levels in Europe. Precipitation is fairly low, with an average of 583 mm per year. But if you come across them, it is better to take shelter because they sometimes cause traffic stops, turn roads into canals or split the beach of Ramlay Bay in two, as in September 2020. They are rather wintery even if climate change makes them come earlier and earlier and they take the form of heavy showers, which contributes to Malta's water supply problems, as the rains flow towards the sea instead of sinking into the ground. At the same time, rainless summers are also the most water-consuming. While Malta depends on its underground reserves of fresh water, drawn from a system of water tunnels, Ta kandja , located almost 97 metres below the surface, its drinking water is also 50% dependent on desalination. The island has another European record for average seawater temperature: 20 degrees, the highest in Europe, a temperature that is easily exceeded during the six months from June to November, reaching a maximum of 27 degrees at the end of August and "falling back" to 22 degrees in November. The wind that dominates the archipelago will not surprise the inhabitants of the south of France since it is the Mistral wind. The sirocco, a dry and hot southern wind, only blows at the end of the summer. More problematic, the grigal, a northeast wind, causes gusts and maritime storms. If it is outdoors, avoid at all costs going out to sea and walking along the cliffs.
Each season has its pleasures
Air and water temperatures are often very pleasant, the sun shines exceptionally brightly and rainfall is low: Malta is a destination that can be reached all year round. Nevertheless, each season will reveal its particular assets. If you can swim in the sea from April to October and practice water sports all year round, the best season to go there is undoubtedly spring. The sun is guaranteed but it is not yet too hot and the vegetation is still green, especially in Gozo where daisies and narcissus are in bloom. Autumn will also be very pleasant with a still warm sea and sometimes some sporadic rain, heavier in September and October. Summer is of course the ideal time for swimming. The vegetation will be slow and the dominant colour of the islands will be ochre. Winter, which is very short in Malta, will be particularly favourable for hiking and if the grigal blows, it will be the occasion to admire the spectacle of a raging sea. Whichever date you go, there are a few essentials that should be packed: sunglasses, headgear and sunscreen. Bring light clothing for all seasons, possibly with a little wool and especially good sports shoes for walks. For the beach, it's better to bring shoes with enough grip because they are often stony. Finally, you should know that during the high tourist season, from the end of June to mid-September, the prices of hotel nights and restaurants tend to double compared to winter.
