A squall line associated with a vigorous low pressure system crossing the Maltese islands at around 4am spawned a dry microburst of high-based thunderstorms.
Weather service provider Meteo Malta said a microburst is a narrow, intense downdraft that is generated from the thunderstorm as the raindrops evaporate and the downdraft reaches the ground, but not accompanied by rain.
The air – cooled by evaporating rain – crashes downward almost like a rock in a pond. The cooler, denser air accelerates downward and then spreads rapidly outward in strong gusty winds near the surface.
Maximum gusts at around 4:15am associated with this microburst affected mainly the southern and eastern parts of Malta: 98.1km/h at Mellieha, 86.9km/h at Zebbug, 88.6km/h at Naxxar, 92.0km/h at Imsida, 93.0km/h at Tarxien and 83.7km/h at Zejtun.
These maximum wind speeds correspond to Force 9 and 10 on the Beaufort scale.
Winds associated with thunderstorms that exceed 90km/h are one of the three conditions needed to satisfy criteria for a severe thunderstorm. The other two conditions are hail larger than 0.75 inches (1.9cm) and a tornado or waterspout.
The weather for the next few days is expected to be fine or partly cloudy, although cooler than it has been for the past few days. Rain showers, possibly with thunder, are expected this weekend.
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