Why Does It Still Feel So Hot In Malta When It’s Raining In September?

September in Malta can be confusing. One minute you’re dealing with dark clouds, thunderstorms and heavy rain — and the next you’re wondering why it still feels like the middle of summer.

The reason is simple: rain doesn’t necessarily mean cold weather, especially this early in autumn. Malta is still surrounded by a very warm Mediterranean Sea after months of summer heat. Warm sea temperatures continue to release heat and moisture into the air, keeping conditions humid even when clouds and rain arrive.

In fact, warm Mediterranean waters can actually help fuel heavier rainfall and thunderstorms by providing additional moisture and energy to weather systems. Copernicus has previously linked unusually warm Mediterranean waters with more intense storms and extreme rainfall events.

Then there’s the humidity. When the air contains a lot of moisture, sweat evaporates less efficiently from your skin, meaning temperatures can feel warmer and stickier than the thermometer suggests. That’s why a rainy September day in Malta can still feel muggy rather than refreshing.

September is also simply a transitional month. The land and sea have spent the entire summer absorbing heat, and they don’t suddenly cool down when September arrives. Even across the Mediterranean, sea temperatures can remain very high well into early autumn.

So those grey skies aren’t necessarily a sign that summer temperatures are gone. In Malta, September can basically give you thunderstorms, humidity, sunshine and beach weather — sometimes all on the same day.

Welcome to Maltese autumn.

#MaltaDaily

Photo source: Alyona Nagel