Weather

Malta's hot, dry summer can sometimes be uncomfortable, owing to the winds, but is otherwise a sunny Mediterranean treat. July daytime temperatures hover around 36°C (97°F). Conditions are also pleasant during winter with January averaging a mild range of 10-14°C (50-58°F). The rain is heaviest in winter, but is still only moderate, with most days dry.

In November and December, expect daytime temperatures of 12-18ºC (54-64ºF) and a fair amount of sunshine between showers (the total annual rainfall is low, around 580mm/23in, and falls mainly between October and February). January and February are the coldest months.

Winds are a feature of Malta's weather. The stiff sea breeze is cooling in summer. In winter, however, the northeasterly griga can whip up the waves, occasionally disrupting the ferry service from the island of Malta to Gozo. In spring and autumn, the southeasterly xlokk (sirocco) sometimes blows in from North Africa, bringing humid and occasionally foggy conditions.