The month of December was characterised by thunderstorms coupled with events of hail that are typical for this time of the year, the Meteorological Office reported yesterday. With a total number of six days with thunderstorms, it slightly exceeds the December norm since 1951. On 12 December, these thunderstorms were accompanied by hail.

The total rainfall during this month amounted to 206.8 mm, which exceeded the average value for December since 1922 by more than 103.9 mm. Since the last 85 years, the highest rainfall recorded during the month of December was that of 1970 when a total of 302.6 mm of rain fell over the Maltese islands.

As to the temperature, a mean sea surface value of 17.8oC was recorded which is a typical average for the month. The same applies to the recorded mean monthly day maximum (16.5oC) and mean monthly night minimum (12.2oC) temperatures, although the latter is slightly warmer than the 85-year average of 11.4oC. The lowest minimum (7.6oC) and the lowest grass minimum (0.3oC) of the month of December 2007 were recorded on the 18th.

The average wind speed attained at the Malta International Airport last month was 8.8 knots (or 10.1 mph), which is a typical average value since 1947. The most frequent direction was the West. The strongest gust was 41 knots (or 47.2 mph) from West North West that was recorded on the 12th of the month. The strongest gust ever recorded in December at Malta International Airport was 68 knots from the NorthWest on 15 December 1981.

The Meteorological Office of Malta International Airport is Malta’s National Meteorological Service appointed by the Government of Malta to provide weather services to the community. It has records dating from 1947 at the airport and since 1922 for records from Pieta and Valletta. The only official weather forecasts, reports and warnings are those issued by the Malta International Airport Meteorological Office.

For more information log on to the website at www.maltairport.com/weather