• July’s average temperature exceeded the climatic norm by 1.6°C
• The highest temperature reached 37.9°C on the 21st of July
• The month was 15 hours sunnier than the norm

The Maltese Islands’ rainfall deficit extended into July, with no precipitation and notably higher-than-average temperatures leaving fields parched. In fact, the average temperature recorded in July was 28.5°C, which marks a 1.6°C rise over the monthly norm.

Despite the intense heat and abundant sunshine that characterised the month, there were no heatwaves recorded in July. This was not the case last year, when a ten-day heatwave confirmed July 2023 as the hottest July on the Meteorological Office’s records.

The hottest day of the month was the 21st of July, when the mercury peaked at 37.9°C. The record high for July remains 42.7°C, reached for the first time in 1988 and again last year. The lowest temperature of the month was 20.2°C, recorded on the 6th of July.

Throughout the sun-soaked month, the islands basked in 384 hours of sunshine, exceeding the monthly norm for July by 15 hours.

The sea was also warmer than usual, with the average sea surface temperature reaching 26.9°C; nearly 2°C above the norm.