Wind ushers in New Year

Gale force winds swept the country on New Year's Eve but caused only minor damage.

"We are talking about broken branches, not uprooted trees," a member of the Civil Protection Department said.

The gale - defined as Force 8 on the Beaufort scale - reached its peak at around 11 p.m. and then again at about 5 a.m. on New Year's day, mostly felt in exposed areas and high ground, such as Cirkewwa and Mellieha.

"Northwest winds do not cause as much damage as northeast winds, even when they are this strong, because they hit the islands at remote areas and the force of the wind is dissipated as it passes over land. Northeast winds are so much more damaging because they directly hit densely populated coastal towns like Valletta, Sliema, Bugibba and even the Freeport," meteorologist John Mallia said.

The winds did not reach gale force at Luqa yesterday, registering a highest mean of 28 knots (52 km per hour), with gusts of up to 38 knots (70 km per hour).

These winds fell far short of the record mean of 46 knots (85 km per hour) registered during a northeasterly gale in Luqa on December 8, 1988.

The highest gust ever recorded was 72 knots (133 km per hour) in October 1982.

The winds yesterday were the result of low pressure over the Gulf of Taranto which moved southeastwards over Greece. By evening, the winds had abated to Force 6, Met Officer operator Trevor Sammut said.