VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded its hottest July day on Saturday after temperatures reached 43.3°C, according to the Meteorological Office.
The reading exceeded the previous July record of 42.7°C, set in both 1998 and 2023, and came just 0.5°C below the country’s all-time high of 43.8°C recorded in August 1999.
The record was measured at the Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport as a severe heatwave continued across the islands.
Forecasts indicate the heatwave will persist until at least Wednesday, with daytime temperatures expected to remain above 40°C throughout the period.
Health authorities have escalated the Heat Health Action Plan, warning that the current spell is expected to persist until at least Tuesday.
Twenty cooling centres have been opened across Malta to assist vulnerable people without adequate cooling at home.
Authorities urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and check regularly on older relatives, neighbours and people living alone.
Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, a medical doctor, advised the public to drink plenty of water, limit alcohol consumption and monitor people with dementia, who may not recognise the signs of dehydration.
Officials warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and, in severe cases, heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.
Older adults, young children, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and those taking certain medications were identified as being at greatest risk.
The heatwave follows an exceptionally warm start to summer, with June 2026 recorded as the hottest June in western Europe and the second hottest across Europe.
-Photo Martin Agius-
(ITALPRESS).
