June ends on a high note with fourth warmest day
High temperatures expected for some more days
Malta sweated in uncommonly high temperatures yesterday and the UV index is once again expected to reach levels of concern today.
The mercury yesterday edged up to 37.6°C, the fourth highest temperature ever for June, according to the Meteorological Office. The average temperature for this time of the year is 29°C.
The highest June temperature was recorded in 1997 when the temperature reached 40.1°C, followed by the maximum reading of 39.7°C a year later, and 39.5°C in 1982.
The Met. Office said the heat was expected to prevail over the coming days, with temperatures hovering in the high 30s.
A good night's sleep without an air conditioner has also been hard to come by. The minimum temperature on Sunday night was a high 27.2°C, no less than 7°C above the average for this time of the year.
The hot weather has been caused by high pressure extending from Morocco to the Central Mediterranean. The south westerly winds helped to fan the heat further.
The UV is also expected to hit the 11+ mark today, one up from yesterday.
As the ozone layer gets thinner, the protective filter provided by the atmosphere is progressively reduced. Consequently, people are exposed to higher UV levels, which are very detrimental to the skin.
With a UV index of seven or over, experts strongly urge people to use appropriate sunscreen generously, cover up with a hat and appropriate clothing, and seek the shade, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sales of air conditioners have spiralled as thousands seek cool refuge.
Air conditioning suppliers contacted yesterday said they had been overwhelmed by the number of queries and sales.
"And this has nothing to do with the trade fair offers," one supplier said.
The heat wave pushes the national power grid close to the limit as people switch on their air conditioners, fans and refrigerators to full power.
A spokesman for Enemalta corporation said the demand for electricity had already reached 352 megawatts by 10 a.m. yesterday.
The record demand for electricity during summer was reached in August last year when 367 MW was soaked out of the Delimara and Marsa power stations.
Which means that summer demand is closing in on the winter highs - the highest ever peak for electricity demand was reached one cold day last February when a reading of 395 MW was reached.
A number of areas were without power on Friday morning after a boiler and turbine at the Marsa station stopped operating. Investigations into the cause are still going on.