Climate of Malta

Climate of Malta

Where is the country of Malta located? The country of Malta is located under Italy and has a Mediterranean climate. Within the Köppen climate system, Malta specifically has a Csa climate or a warm Mediterranean climate.

The main islands of Malta are Gozo and the main island of the same name Malta. That’s where most of the tourists are. To travel to Gozo you have to cross by ferry from Malta. That simply makes it easier to stay in Malta. As a result, you notice that the island is experienced as super touristy, especially in the tourist places around Valletta, and that Gozo is seen as quieter and more authentic. However, the main attractions of the country can be found on the main island.

Dry, warm summers and mild, wet winters are the climatic characteristics of Malta. In the winter months there is often a fairly strong wind, so it can still feel bleak. During the summer months there is virtually no precipitation and there is less wind. Visitors experience Malta in summer as arid, dry and warm. In the period from June to September it is also still warm in the evenings and the thermometer often only reaches values ​​below 25 degrees after midnight.

Sirocco

In the summer, the sirocco can rise. This is a desert wind that brings very warm air to Malta, which can make it uncomfortably hot. This wind current can last for days. On the hottest days, maximum temperatures can reach 40 degrees or more. Many people no longer experience this as pleasant. Fortunately, circumstances like this don’t happen too often.

Sun guarantee

If you travel to Malta in the period from May to September, you are almost assured of a lot of sunshine. Clouds don’t show much in the summer and precipitation is a rarity. Clouds will increase from October. It also rains more often and the wind can sometimes pick up considerably. Malta is not always stable enough in October for a beach holiday, although there are sometimes years where summer lasts well into October.

The best travel time for a sun holiday in Malta is from June to September. In May and the first half of October you can be lucky, but there is also a chance that it is just a bit too gray and/or too cool. If you are going to Malta for an active holiday, it is better to avoid the hottest months of July and August.

On holiday to Malta

The Mediterranean climate makes Malta a wonderful sun destination. If you travel to Malta in the summer, you don’t have to worry about the temperature or any rain. Malta is only a 2.5 hour flight from the Netherlands and is attractively priced compared to some other Mediterranean countries.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 15℃ 9℃ 5 9 16℃
February 15℃ 9℃ 6 8 16℃
March 17℃ 10℃ 7 8 15℃
April 19℃ 12℃ 8 6 16℃
May 23℃ 15℃ 10 2 18℃
June 27℃ 19℃ 11 0 21℃
July 30℃ 21℃ 12 0 24℃
August 31℃ 22℃ 11 0 26℃
September 29℃ 20℃ 9 3 25℃
October 24℃ 17℃ 7 7 23℃
November 20℃ 14℃ 6 8 21℃
December 17℃ 11℃ 5 9 18℃

Best time to visit Malta

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Malta? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Malta is a country located in the Mediterranean Sea and consists of several islands including Malta, Gozo and Camino. Due to its location between Italy and North Africa, Malta has a warm Mediterranean climate with warm sunny summers and mild wet winters, in which the wind can sometimes be strong. The biggest determining factors for the weather are the topographical location and the influence of the sea water. From time to time, the African mainland can also play an important role in the weather in Malta. That is, for example, when the sirocco is blowing. This hot dry wind then blows from the Sahara in a northerly direction, so that relatively warm and dry desert air can be supplied to Malta. The sirocco often takes sand and dust from the Sahara with it. The chance of a sirocco is greatest in spring and autumn. Then the temperature increase is most significant. In the summer the sirocco also blow, but then it is often weaker.

Best months for Malta

The best time to travel for a general holiday to Malta is from mid – April to mid – October. It is then quite dry, pleasantly warm to sometimes very warm and the sun often shows itself. The months of June to August are especially sunny. If you mainly come to be active or to soak up the culture of Malta, then you might want to avoid the hottest period (mid-June to mid-September).

Sun holiday in Malta

Are you going to Malta for the sun and do you want to spend most of your time at the pool or on the beach? Then the period from June to September is the best time to travel. The maximum temperature in these summer months is on average between 27 and 33 degrees Celsius. Outliers to the top are possible. Sometimes the thermometers shoot towards forty degrees. Rainfall is limited in June, July and August. From September, and especially at the end of September, the chance of a rain shower increases.

Malta during the school holidays

You may be bound by the legally established school holidays that apply in the Netherlands. In that case, the Christmas holidays and spring break are the least good months for a holiday to Malta. The May holiday is often pleasant, but just a bit too cool for a sun holiday. The seawater temperature is then around 17-18 degrees and the pool water is not much warmer if it is not heated. The May holiday is ideal for a round trip, a city trip or an active holiday in Malta. Summer vacation falls during the hottest period in Malta. Great weather for a sun holiday, but actually too hot to do much. Especially if you want to do a lot of exercise during the day, such as long walks, the weather in Malta can be just a bit too hot. The autumn break comes when the weather in Malta has become more unstable. Sunny pleasant days can alternate with cloudy cooler days, possibly with rain. For a cultural holiday, the autumn holiday is fine, but for a holiday in the sun, Malta barely scores a sufficient mark in mid-October.

Malta