Another heatwave is expected to engulf the islands from Thursday, with temperatures set to reach between 37°C and 39°C, according to the Meteorological Office.

The heatwave is expected to persist until at least Sunday, a spokesperson said.

In June Malta experienced the first heatwave of the summer in what turned out to be one of the longest June heatwaves recorded on the island. It lasted 12 days with temperatures reaching a scorching 41.5°C.

A heatwave is experienced when the mean monthly maximum temperature is exceeded by at least 5°C for three or more consecutive days. The mean maximum temperature for July is 31.6°C, while for August it's 31.7°C.

The hottest ever July temperature recorded in Malta was 42.7˚C in 1988. The highest ever temperature recorded in Malta was 43.8˚C in August 1999.

“The expected heatwave is the result of a high-pressure system over northern Africa, which will extend towards the central Mediterranean," the Met Offie said.

It said northwesterly winds will be light and humidity levels low, "causing temperatures to shoot up".

While northwesterly winds are generally not ‘warm’ winds, air will become heated over the land track, resulting in higher temperatures, it added.