Several low-lying areas across Malta were flooded overnight as persistent rain hit the Maltese islands, coupled with strong winds.
A mild January has been followed by a colder start to February, accompanied by rain which has been falling on the country for at least the past 36 hours for a total of 65mm, which is more than the monthly average for the month.
Northerly winds of force 6 to 7 are to increase to force 8 by the afternoon and becoming west northwest force 5 or 6 overnight, according to the Meteorological Office.
Photos James Caruana
The police have issued a warning avising motorists to exercise caution, especially, in low lying areas due to rainy conditions.
Carnival activities on Friday were cancelled and if the weather persists as it is, it is likely that events for today will also be cancelled.
A vessel has also ran aground in Qawra.
No pollution risk
Transport Malta’s maritime pollution response team, together with the civil protection and the Police were on site since this morning and keep monitoring the small vessel, Hephaestus, a 60-metre tanker registered in Togo, that grounded early this morning at Qawra due to the inclement weather.
All crew are safe onshore. The tanker had no cargo onboard and there are no pollution risks. The vessel has approx 4 cubic meters of fuel onboard but there is no risk of that seeping out. ERA officials are monitoring the site as well, to pre-empt any environmental damage.
The authorities are currently investigating the accident and planning a salvage operation that will be put in action as soon as weather conditions improve.