A notably dry spring season has given way to an early taste of summer heat, with recent meteorological data showing below-average rainfall across the period and a strong, warm start to June in Malta.

In a statement, the Malta Meteorological Office said that the spring months were overall drier than the climatic norm despite a wet March.

Total rainfall for the season reached 60.4mm, falling short of the seasonal average of 68.7mm, with more than three-quarters of that total recorded in March alone.

March itself brought 46.2mm of rainfall, slightly above its monthly quota by 6.5mm, providing the bulk of the season's precipitation.

However, this early surplus was offset by much drier conditions in the following months.

April recorded just 11.0mm of rainfall, much of it concentrated around the Easter period, while May saw an especially dry spell with only 3.2mm, well below its expected average by 7.1mm.

Despite the rainfall deficit, temperatures during spring remained close to seasonal expectations. The average spring temperature stood at 17.3°C, only 0.5°C above the climatic norm, indicating a relatively stable thermal pattern across the season.

The meteorological summer has begun on a distinctly warm and sunny note, with the first week characterised by clear skies and rising temperatures.

Daytime highs have been consistently ranging between 30°C and 32°C, while nighttime lows remain around 21°C.

Forecasts indicate that these warm conditions will persist throughout the week, maintaining similar temperature patterns and reinforcing the early arrival of summer-like weather.

At the same time, UV levels have intensified, reaching index level 10, classified as very high, by the end of last week. The UV index is expected to remain at this level until tomorrow before easing slightly to level 9 for the remainder of the week.

The public is encouraged to visit maltametoffice.com for the latest weather forecasts and any warnings related to high temperatures and heat.