Last updated at 5.35pm

Strong northerly winds on Monday forced the cancellation of ferry services between Malta and Sicily and uprooted some trees, one of which fell on a car in Mosta. Another blocked the Valletta ring road. No one was injured. 

The harsh weather conditions saw Virtu Ferries and Ponte cancel their Monday and Tuesday morning trips to Sicily, while the Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries Gozo both cancelled all their Monday trips.

The Gozo Channel ferry still braved the seas on Monday, as both fast ferries cancelled all trips. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

A tree which blocked part of the Valletta ring road (Joseph Fenech).

Gozo Channel also warned it might cancel some of its evening trips. Its ferries are currently sailing between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr by going around Comino.

The wind picked up just days after a flash flood on Thursday, when Civil Protection Department officials saved at least 15 people in a few hours.

A tree which succumbed to the strong wind in Marsa.

Meteorologists at the Malta International Airport had warned that Monday morning's very strong west southwest winds would gradually increase to northwesterly gale-force winds until at least midnight.

The temperature is expected to drop from 16°C to 11°C throughout the day, and the wind is expected to remain strong on Tuesday. The met office is forecasting force eight west-northwest wind that will drop to force six later in the day.

The wind picked up just days after flash floods on Thursday. Photo taken on Monday by Chris Sant Fournier.