Heat Mystery in Southern Europe
Tourists look forward to visiting the Maltese islands because of the expectation of sun-drenched days and swimming in crystal clear waters or sunbathing on the beach. But no one knows exactly what causes this heat in the southern countries. What natural factors cause the temperatures that Malta and all southern European countries face in summer?
Geographical Location and Sunlight
The crucial thing is the location of Malta. The Islands lay within the subtropical zone. Which means that they are closer to the equator than Northern Europe. During summer, the Earth Axes tilts, placing Southern Europe in the area of the most sunlight. The sun is right on top of the southern region, therefore sometimes temperatures go up to 40 degrees.
High Pressure System and Stable Weather
There is a high-pressure system over the Atlantic that extends over the Iberian Peninsula and all the countries of Southern Europe, causing dry and stable weather. The air is always moving downward, and because the air moves downward, clouds and rain have no chance to develop. The sun has free rein and warms the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries!
Influence of the Mediterranean Sea
The water of the Mediterranean Sea also has its influence. The water of this sea is warm in summer, and the warm winds that blow over it make it even warmer. There is hardly any vegetation on the Maltese islands (and other countries around them) so the sun reflects even more on the earth and the surface temperature rises accordingly. This makes the weather warmer, the winds warmer and thus the seawater.
Impact of Climate Change
Climate change for decades rises the sea temperatures and therefore average temperatures in general are rising too. So also Southern Europe. Greenhouse gasses cause the greenhouse effect, making the earth warmer and warmer. As a result of this, the countries around the Mediterranean have now African temperatures.
Severe Weather
Hot weather can be dangerous to us. Besides the wildfires, there is also the opposite: torrential rain! Severe weather causes mudslides and flooding. Something you see on the Islands in wintertime. Streets turn into rivers and cars become boats. Why so much rain? Hot air has damp. If weather is stable you don’t realise but when it becomes unstable (wind etc) cumulus clouds develop which can cause severe storms.
Nature’s Strength and Adaptions
Southern Europe has it all. Sun-drenched beaches, no vegetation, dry earth, hot summers but also stormy winters. Nature shows its strength here because of all the natural factors of this region: high pressure, the seawater and the countries’ location relative to the equator. Climate change has the biggest impact on the weather, something we need to be very careful about.
Enjoying Malta’s Dynamic Weather
Malta has a Mediterranean climate. Summer brings temperatures sometimes over 40 degrees Celsius, perfect for sunbathing and swimming in crystal clear waters. Winters are mild, interspersed with refreshing bouts of heavy rain and occasional storms. In summer, temperatures sometimes rise above 40 degrees.
Winters are mild, but heavy rain and storms can occur during the winter months. Malta’s weather is dynamic throughout the year, so choose wisely when planning a visit to Malta. A Malta excursion in torrential rain or sunny weather makes a very big difference!
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