Be the first to comment!3rd consecutive precipitation year with below-average rainfall – Met Office
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A total of 443.5 mm of rainfall was measured during the past precipitation year, stretching between September 2025 and August 2026,the Malta Met Office said today. This amount fell 101.8 mm short of the climatic norm of 545.3 mm, making the past precipitation year the third consecutive one to record below-average rainfall. It has also been the first completely dry summer since 2020.
It noted that the past precipitation year was slightly drier than 2024–2025, when 457.8 mm of rainfall were measured. However, it was considerably wetter than 2023–2024, which registered just 249.8 mm, becoming the second driest precipitation year on the Meteorological Office’s records. In comparison, 2025–2026 brought 193.7 mm more rainfall than 2023–2024.
The Met Office said that rainfall remained below average for much of the 2025–2026 precipitation year, with only four of the 12 months exceeding their respective climatic norms. January was the wettest month, with 112.4 mm of rainfall recorded, as Storm Harry brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to the Maltese Islands. All four meteorological seasons recorded less rainfall than their respective climatic norms, with the extent of the deficit varying considerably throughout the year.
As expected, winter was the wettest season, coming closest to its climatic norm. Between December 2025 and February 2026, 229.0 mm of rainfall were measured, just 4.1 mm below the seasonal norm of 233.1 mm.
Autumn recorded 155.2 mm of rainfall, compared to a climatic norm of 226.0 mm, while spring brought 60.4 mm, against a norm of 68.7 mm.
The Met Office said that summer was completely dry, with no measurable rainfall recorded across June, July and August. While the seasonal climatic norm stands at 15.6 mm, this was the first time since 2020 that the meteorological summer produced no measurable rainfall.
The wettest day of the precipitation year was 6 November 2025, when 35.6 mm of rainfall were measured within 24 hours.
While the official rainfall readings are taken from the Luqa weather station, The Met Office said it is interesting to note that totals varied across the Maltese Islands. Among the Meteorological Office’s nine weather stations, Dingli recorded the highest amount of rainfall, at 485.8 mm, while Benghajsa registered the lowest, at 342.4 mm.
File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary
