Malta weather
Malta enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with sea temperatures higher than in any other part of Europe.
Malta weather averages and climate information
The weather in Malta is typically Mediterranean. Summer is hot and dry with temperatures reaching 32 °C in July and August. Winter is mild and wet, and temperatures only dropping to around 15 - 17 °C during December to February.
Average daily max (°C) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
15.7 | 15.5 | 17.2 | 19.9 | 24.5 | 29.0 | 31.7 | 32.1 | 28.3 | 24.8 | 20.7 | 17.2 | 23.0 |
Average daily min (°C) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
9.2 | 9.3 | 10.1 | 11.9 | 14.9 | 18.4 | 21.0 | 21.8 | 20.1 | 17.1 | 13.9 | 11.0 | 14.9 |
Average relative humidity (%) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
78 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 65 | 68 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 73 |
Average rainfall (mm) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
89 | 83 | 41 | 26 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 68 | 76 | 90 | 90 | 592 |
Average daily sunshine (hrs) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
Average wind speed (mph) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
9.8 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 10.7 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 9.1 |
Average sea surface temperature (°C) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 20 |
When is the best time to go to Malta?
If you are a heat lover, the best time to visit the island is in thesummer when the weather is guaranteed to be dry and hot with 12 hours of sunshine each day. There is however a possibility of experiencing hot sirocco winds that can make temperatures uncomfortably hot, so you might choose to visit in spring, when the weather is pleasantly warm with limited chances of rain and still many hours of sunshine.
Summer
Malta’s summers are long and tend to be very hot with practically no rainfall. The summer starts in June and lasts till late September experiencing average daily highs of around 28 - 32 °C.
These temperatures can vary widely, either soaring when hot sirocco winds blow in from Africa or cooling when ocean breezes prevail.
The chances of rainfall are very low throughout the summer though rainfall totals do increase slightly in September.
The average daily amount of sunshine is at its peak with 12 hours of sunlight in July and 11 in June and August.
Winter
Winter in Malta is mild, making it a popular choice to escape the cold weather for some winter sun. The temperatures in December are around 17 °C, whilst January and February are only slightly cooler- at about 15 °C.
Winter is also the wettest time of the year with the average rainfall at 90 mm. The island receives around 5 to 6 hours of sunshine.
Spring / Autumn
Spring sees perhaps the best weather of the year with low rainfall and comfortable warm temperatures. Daytime highs are between 20 - 25 °C and the average rainfall is about 25 mm. The sea temperatures may be slightly too cold at the beginning of the spring but comfortable enough to take a dip by May.
The average daily sunshine in spring and autumn ranges between 6 hours in November to 10 hours in May. The temperatures in autumn are in the high 20s (°C) and the average rainfall ranges from 76 to 90 mm.
Extremes
Malta occasionally experiences out of the ordinary weather with thunderstorms and hail storms sometimes forming. The last recorded snow on the island was in 1962.
Malta tourist information
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and the North African coast. The island is ideal for a relaxed beach holiday with its peaceful towns and tranquil bays.
Malta is ideal for a relaxed beach holiday with its peaceful towns and tranquil bays with sea temperatures higher than any other part of Europe. It is an immensely peaceful destination; idyllic sandy stretches like Armier Bay, Golden Sands Beach and Paradise Bay all jostle for the affections of sun worshipping tourists, while remaining some of the least hectic beaches in the Mediterranean.
The country is also rich in culture and ancient heritage. Phoenician traders used the island as an important trading outpost; the Carthaginians and the Romans battled for primacy here and the Byzantines ruled for a number of years. Long before this though, Malta became home to buildings which are now recognised as some of the world's oldest megalithic structures. UNESCO has thus been keen to designate a number of protected heritage sites across the island.
In Valletta - Malta's capital - you have artistic and religious treasures such as St John's Co-Cathedral, where the large vaulted ceilings provide solace from the hot summer sun. Inside the cathedral, you're advised to see the magnificent Caravaggio's, as well as the striking artefacts donated through the years.
The waterfront at Valletta is a rival for any harbour in the Med, with visitors happily sitting with a drink or a meal on those balmy summer Mediterranean evenings.