Warmer but drier October

As opposed to the previous month, October 2012 was drier than average with 65.8mm compared to the average of 76.4mm. This mainly fell on the 25th of the month, when a waterspout was also seen off St Paul’s Bay. October was also hotter than average, particularly at night.

The mean monthly maximum temperature of 25.6°C was 0.5°C above average while the mean monthly minimum temperature of 20.3°C was 1.6°C above average. The hottest October since temperature records began in 1987 was that of 1990 with a mean temperature of 23.9°C. The coolest was in 1996 with a mean temperature of 19.9°C.

The hottest day in October 2012 was on the 1st day of the month with a maximum of 29.7°C. The hottest October day ever recorded was of 33.5°C on 2nd October 1991 and 27th October 1999. The lowest minimum temperature in October 2012 was of 15.8°C on the 26th. The coldest October night ever recorded was of 11.3°C on 29th October 1996.

The SW was the most frequent wind direction with an average wind speed at Zebbug Malta of 7.4km/h. The strongest gust at Zebbug was of 64.8km/h on the 27th. A gust of 96.2km/h was recorded at Mellieha on the same day.

The mean monthly sea-level pressure was 1014.1hPa, with the highest of 1022.1hPa occurring on the 6th and the lowest of 1000.3hPa occurring on the 27th.