The Maltese Islands Weather Facebook page gave a lengthy, yet simplified explanation about this summer’s anomalous weather, leading to hazy skies almost every day this summer.

“Intense heat accompanied by the absence of winds and prevailing drought are synonymous with the Maltese summer. The persistence of fine dust in the air throughout the summer is not,” the post read.

The weather page said that while the phenomenon of fine dust in the air is a normal one for the Maltese Islands, its increased intensity and frequency in recent weeks is raising some very valid questions.

“It seems that the atmospheric situation over our region and the desert refuses to stabilise, and therefore, currents over the desert remained active,” the post said.

The page explained that when low pressure passes over this region, it collects this airborne sand and brings it to Malta. When fine dust is present in the atmosphere, it appears as a reddish sky.

Apart from the consequences of this dust on respiratory health and various allergies, its effects are also seen in other meteorological aspects, it said.

“In summer, when the air heats up and the sun shines for long hours, the rate of evaporation of water vapor from the sea increases. This water vapor meets the airborne dust. This fine dust acts as 'Cloud Condensation Nuclei',” it said.

The weather page continued to explain that these are small, solid particles with which water vapor condenses to form clouds. As a result of this, the fine dust manifests in the form of 'mist' at lower levels.

It said that higher up in the sky, this leads to the formation of clouds which lead to the overcast sky, or patches of grey clouds seen more often this summer.

“The hazy air and white sky are also aggravated by the fact that the atmosphere stagnates above us. This causes pollution, fine dust and water vapor to become trapped in the lower levels of the atmosphere,” it said.

The weather page said that seemingly, this weather will prevail on the hotter days.

“The only relief will continue to be during rare episodes of strong North-westerly winds,” the page said, giving an explanation of this type of weather persisting this summer following questions by the public, as well as debunking “the many baseless theories and explanations that are persisting among many.”