Malta weather: temperature, rain and sunshine for every month

Most of what you read about Malta’s weather boils down to “sunny all year”. That’s only half the story. I went to the source instead, the Meteorological Office based at the airport in Luqa, and pieced together the 1991-2020 normals from its monthly notes, because its climate tables aren’t open to the public. The result is the table above, month by month, and below is how I’d read it.

Malta’s weather through the year

Winter is short and mild. January averages 12.9°C (55°F) and February, the coldest month, 12.6°C. March climbs to 14.1°C, April to 16.4°C and May to about 20°C (68°F). June averages 24.2°C and July 26.9°C (80°F), with August bringing the highest maximums, an average high of 32°C (90°F). October is still around 21.7°C, November drops to 17.9°C and December settles at 14.5°C.

What strikes me is how steady it is. The gap between the February and July averages is just over 14 degrees, and the sea softens the extremes for most of the year. A Maltese winter behaves more like a cool spring than a proper winter.

Sunshine follows the same curve. The norm climbs from around 170 hours in January to 334.1 in June, and in June 2025 Luqa averaged 12.5 hours of bright sunshine a day. Midwinter days are shorter, with 5 to 6 hours of sun a day according to Visit Malta in 2023, which is still plenty for a day of sightseeing.

Rain falls almost entirely from October to February

The annual norm is 543 mm. The Met Office counts its rainfall year from September to August, because the first storms arrive at the tail end of summer. November is the wettest month with 89.1 mm, ahead of January’s 79.3 mm and October’s 77.6 mm. May gets 10.2 mm and June 5.8 mm. July 2023 didn’t see a single drop. In Malta in January I explain why that month, with its 79.3 mm, is also the airport’s quietest, and Malta in December runs through its three public holidays.

The averages can mislead, though. Maltese rain tends to come in short, heavy bursts rather than long grey days. On 9 February 2023, Storm Helios dropped 140.4 mm on Luqa in a single day, twice what a normal February gets in total. If you travel in winter, expect the odd day of rain and wind, with plenty of clear skies in between.

Summer heat and heatwaves

Summer is dry, long and hot. The Met Office defines a heatwave as three or more days with the maximum at least 5°C above the month’s norm, which in June means topping about 34°C (93°F). It happens more than you’d think. In 2025 there was one from 24 to 27 June, in 2022 another from 23 to 28 June, and on 30 June 2021 the thermometer reached 41.5°C (107°F).

July 2023 was the hottest month on record, averaging 29.6°C with a peak of 42.7°C. I use that for one practical rule. In July and August I plan temples and forts for early morning or late afternoon and leave midday for the sea. The whole season is covered in my guide to Malta in summer, and each month in Malta in July and Malta in August.

Wind, dust and warnings

Wind is what most guides forget. From autumn to spring it blows hard on several days a month, and in north-easterly gales the Met Office issues Gregale advisories for the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett, the two harbours that bear the brunt. In February 2026, for example, the average wind speed was 12.8 knots against a norm of 9.4.

Spring adds dust. Depressions over North Africa push sand towards the central Mediterranean, bringing hazy white skies and poor visibility on some days. On 16 April 2024 it ended in muddy “blood rain”. Worth knowing if you’re planning photos or a clifftop walk.

What to pack for Malta

My rule is simple. From November to March, layers and a windproof jacket, because 13°C with a north-westerly feels colder on your skin than on the thermometer. In April and May, short sleeves by day and something warmer after dark. From June to September, light clothes, a hat and sun cream, since the UV index already hits 10 in June. And comfortable shoes whatever the month, because stone cities like Valletta are all slopes and steps. Your UK plugs will work, by the way, since Malta uses the same three-pin socket.

If you’re trying to pick dates, I’ve laid it all out in the best time to visit Malta, and if the beach is the point, see Malta sea temperature. For the cooler months there’s Malta in winter.