Temperatures in Malta this week will be as high as 35°C but will not reach the sweltering heights of those in mainland Europe, according to the Meteorological Office.
The relatively cool weather comes as the rest of the continent experiences unprecedented hot weather, with records being broken in several countries.
Temperatures in southern Spain soared to 46°C on Saturday, a new record for June. A new record maximum temperature for June was also recorded in Mora in Portugal on Sunday, at 46.6°C.
In Malta, a yellow weather warning was issued by the Met Office on Monday, as the temperature reached 33°C.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said the first heatwave of the year happened last week, between Tuesday and Friday, when the thermometer reached 35.2°C. Temperatures at the weekend then cooled slightly.
The heatwave was caused by the same high-pressure system that is currently covering most of Europe and the Mediterranean.
A heatwave occurs when the mean maximum temperature exceeds the climatic norm by five degrees Celsius or more for at least three consecutive days.
“Throughout this coming week, the temperature will cool down slightly, following a similar trend to that observed during the weekend. Based on the forecast, a heatwave is not expected, given that the mean maximum temperature for July is higher (31.7°C) than that of the month of June (28.8°C),” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that the fact that Malta is a small country surrounded by the sea meant that temperature increases did not always correspond to the European mainland.
Meanwhile, the continent is bracing for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings.
In France, the ecology transition minister reported a record 84 of the nation’s 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest “orange” heat alert.
Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France, Turkey and Italy, fed by the heat and strong winds.
Cities are offering different ways of staying cool, from free swimming pools in Marseille to free guided tours for the elderly in air-conditioned museums in Venice.