The cold weather being experienced over Malta is being caused by a combination of a strong area of high-pressure 1054hPa over Russia and a low pressure over the eastern and central Mediterranean resulting from the relatively warm sea, director of Malta Weather Services Mark Vella Gera explained to MaltaMedia News.
The winds moving clockwise round this high-pressure system is bringing the very cold air from Siberia over to the central Mediterranean via the anticlockwise movement of air round the low-pressure system to our northeast. The high pressure is normal for this time of the year since it is caused by the cold air which is normal over those places. However, it seems the pressure is higher than usual and is staying for quite a long period now.
On Tuesday, the cold weather reached Malta with a high of just 10 degrees Celsius and expected minimums of around four or five degrees Celsius on Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Mr Vella Gera also said that this cold weather has not only hit Malta but also several countries. The high in Moscow is only –20C, Romania only had a high of –13C, east of Ukraine –16C while England remains unscathed with a high of 10C in some parts. Belarus also reported a low of –33C during the last few days. This cold is expected to continue moving west and south with the British Islands expected to remain unscathed.
The forecast for the next 48 hours is maximum temperatures rising to just 10 or 11 degrees Celsius with minimum temperatures down to four or five degrees Celsius. As from Friday the weather is expected to become warmer gradually, especially during the night, when winds will be turning to a South East direction. However, it seems that cold polar air may return next week with the possibility of more rain showers, thunderstorms and hail. The cold over Europe is expected to ease during the weekend but will re-intensify next week.
Malta Weather Services provides the most accurate five-day weather forecasts on its website www.maltaweather.com, together with live weather updated every 15 minutes, weather charts and satellite images, and archives stretching back to 1985. One may also phone on number 50043344 for detailed weather forecasts up to 15 days ahead, including wind and rain forecasts every three hours for the next three days.
© Copyright 2005 - MaltaMedia Online Network
Top of Page
| 
