Strong winds are set to return to Malta early next week, but authorities are not expecting a repeat of the havoc wreaked by Storm Harry on Tuesday.
Met Iffice forecasts show that winds will reach up to Force 8 next Monday, accompanied by isolated showers throughout the day.
A spokesperson for the Met office confirmed that “a low pressure system is expected to develop over central Italy and the central Mediterranean which will cause Westerly winds to increase up to Force 7-8 over the Maltese Islands by Monday 26th”.
However, the spokesperson added, “we are not expecting, as of yet, anything close to Storm Harry that we have experienced these past days”.
The spokesperson advised the public to consult the Met office website, “as the forecast might change over the coming days”. If necessary, “warnings will be issued in due time and in accordance with the latest weather predictions,” the spokesperson added.
Malta experienced stormy conditions on Wednesday, as the cleanup after Storm Harry kicked off.
The rain is expected to continue over the coming days. With the exception of a sunny interlude on Saturday, rain is currently forecast for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
The relatively calm current winds are expected to pick up over the coming days, rising from Force 3 on Thursday to Force 6 on Sunday, before hitting Force 8 on Monday.
While Force 8 winds are classified as gale force, reaching up to 74 km/h, they are well short of the 104 km/h winds that battered Malta throughout Tuesday.