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Malta
Climate

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The land > Climate

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short, cool winters with adequate rainfall. Nearly three-fourths of the total annual rainfall of about 20 inches (508 millimetres) falls between October and March; June, July, and August are normally quite dry.


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The temperature is very stable, the annual mean being 64° F (18° C) and the monthly averages ranging from 54° F (12° C) to 88° F (31° C). Winds are strong and frequent; the most common are the cool northwesterly (the majjistral), the dry northeasterly (the grigal, or gregale), and the hot humid southeasterly (the xlokk, or sirocco). The relative humidity is consistently high and rarely falls below 40 percent.

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More from Britannica on "Malta :: Climate"...
18 Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full 32 volume encyclopedia
>Valletta
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1 Student Encyclopedia Britannica articles, specially written for elementary and high school students
Malta
An island country, Malta is located in the central Mediterranean Sea 58 miles (93 kilometers) south of Sicily. Covering an area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers), the country consists of five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, and Comino, which are inhabited, and the uninhabited islands of Cominotto and Filfla. The capital and chief port is Valletta, located on ...