The hot weather which has prevailed in Malta over the weekend and which saw yesterday’s temperature rising to 33.7 °C, is expected to subside by Friday, the Meteorological Office said yesterday.

The Met. Office said that yesterday was the warmest May day since 27 May 1994 when the temperature reached a staggering 33.9°C.

The hottest May days since records started being kept by the Meteorological Office were 61 years ago, when on two consecutive days – 22 and 23 May 1945, the temperature reached 34.4°C.

The Met. Office explained that a weak anticyclone or area of high pressure was extending from Libya to Italy and onto central and eastern Europe.

This, together with a depression, caused by seasonal hot air over Algeria, produced a steady flow of warm air flowing north and north eastwards towards the central Mediterranean.

This very warm air should not last long since the temperature is expected to subside by Friday.