Mellieha in Malta is a resort located in the south of Europe in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The island of Malta is located 93km south of the island of Sicily, and is one of the most southern places in Europe. The area is made up of an archipelago of islands, 18 uninhabited and 3 inhabited: Gozo, Comino and Malta, where Mellieha is situated.
The climate is subtropical Mediterranean, with long, hot, dry summers and short, mild wetter winters, typical of many of the countries in this region. The weather is generally very stable and doesn't change much each day during the different seasons, with the temperature increasing steadily through the spring into the summer, and not cooling down much until the late autumn.
Summers can be very hot and the humidity can be high, making it uncomfortable for some people, but the sea breezes can be cooling and the water temperature is very pleasant for a swim almost all year round. August is the hottest month of the year with temperatures reaching an average of 270C. Winters are mild in this resort, with temperatures rarely getting lower than 120C, the coldest month of the year being January. It can become windier during the winter and if the northerly wind blows off Europe, it can become colder, but even then, the temperature doesn't often get lower than around 90C.
Malta has one of the highest daily hours of sunshine in Europe, double some of the northerly European destinations. For example, Mellieha has around 3000 hours of sunshine each year compared to 1,461 hours in London. It can be quite dry in this resort, with very little rain during the summer, and most of the area's rain falling between October and February. There can be strong winds in the area, with dry north easterly or cool north westerly winds being quite common. There are also south easterly winds which bring very hot and humid conditions. Check the up to date forecast before travelling to get the latest weather information.
Summer
The summer is long and hot in Mellieha, and lasts from June to September. During this season, the beaches are the best place to spend your days but they can become busy during the high season. The average temperatures during summer range from 230C in June, to 270C in August which is the hottest month of the year. The temperatures can get much hotter when the wind blows from the south, and average high temperatures can get as hot as 310C in July and August. The humidity is also very high at this time of year and conditions can get muggy and uncomfortable. Swimming in the sea is a nice way to cool down in the summer, as sea temperatures are their warmest at between 210C in June to 260C in August, while staying a warm 250C into September. July has the longest and sunniest days, with around 12 hours of sunshine each day, while the rest of summer sees lovely long days of 9 to 11 hours of sunshine per day. July is also the driest month of the year with no rainfall on average, and all of summer is generally dry with only 3mm falling in June and increasing to approximately 40mm of rain by September.
Autumn
Autumn lasts from October to November and the weather at this time of year is becoming cooler and wetter, although it is still a very good time of year to visit the resort. October starts to see shorter days with 7 hours of sunshine each day, dropping to just 6 hours each day in November. The temperatures are still mild, ranging from an average of 210C in October, which is still very pleasant, and, reaching a high of 240C, dropping to a low of 170C. In November during the day the temperatures can reach a high of 200C with lows of around 140C, with average temperatures of 170C. Autumn sees slightly more rain than the summer, and average amounts of rainfall range from 90mm in October to 80mm in November. This is a good time of year to visit to avoid the larger summer crowds, but be sure to bring some warmer clothes for the cooler evenings. There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved in water sports in autumn, as the sea temperatures are still a warm 210C to 230C.
Winter
During the winter months of December to February, the climate is cooler and wetter than the rest of the year, but it is still a good resort to visit if looking for warmer weather than northern Europe. It is not ideal beach weather, and some of the attractions of the island are closed during the winter months so check with companies before you travel if you have a specific activity in mind for your holiday. Sea temperatures are decreasing now, so many water sports are not available. Sea temperatures range from 180C in December, to 160C in January and February. Days are shorter now as well, and average daily hours of sunshine are between 3 hours in December to 6 hours in February as winter comes to an end. The average daily temperatures vary from 120C in January, which is the coldest month of the year, to 140C in December. If the cold northerly winds are blowing, the temperatures can feel even lower. Temperatures rarely get warmer than 170C during this season, and can drop as low as 90C overnight. December is the wettest month of the year with 112mm of rain falling over the month, and the rest of winter sees between 61mm to 89mm each month, getting drier as spring approaches.
Spring
The months of March, April and May are spring in this resort, and are characterised by gradually increasing temperatures and longer days. This is a good season to visit this resort as the humidity is not too high, the days are warmer than in winter, and outdoor activities are popular before it gets too hot in the summer. May is the warmest month of spring, with temperatures between 150C and 230C on average, while April sees daytime highs of 190C and 170C in March. Overnight, the temperatures can get quite cold with lows of 100C in March so bring warm clothes when visiting in early spring. The days are becoming longer and average hours of sunshine is increasing each month towards summer, from 7 hours in March, 8 hours in April and 10 hours of sunshine each day in May. There is less rainfall than there was in winter, although it is still wetter than summer. On average there are 41mm of rain during the month of March, decreasing to 7mm of rainfall during May. It is too cold to swim in the sea in spring, unless wearing a wetsuit. March has the lowest sea temperature of the year at just 150C, increasing to 180C by May.
The landscape around Mellieha is mainly terraced fields, rocky and sandy beaches and dry vegetation. The dry countryside is partly due to the hot, dry conditions of the island, and also due to the lack of trees that were cut down hundreds of years ago, leaving mainly olive groves, citrus and pine trees. Most of the island's beaches are rocky, but there are some gorgeous sandy beaches around this resort, particularly in Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay, which is Malta's largest sandy beach. These sandy beaches are unique to the north of Malta, as the southern side of the island has cliffs dropping off to the sea.
Catholicism is practised widely in this area, and there are many beautiful churches to visit during a trip to the resort. There are many festivals throughout the year which are wonderful ways to witness the culture of the area. The village is the centre of life in Malta, and in Mellieha, there are markets, restaurants, shops and bars. The population swells during summer as there are many people who have holiday homes here to use during the hot months. The local residents are friendly and welcoming and the resort is ideal for family holidays or a relaxed getaway with friends. It is worth hiring a car during your visit, as many attractions are less than a short drive away.