CIHEAM Press Review

Malta is on course to witness its driest year ever, and the island is seeing so little rain it might qualify as a desert, according to marine biologist Alan Deidun. 
“One of the definitions of a desert is an area which receives less than 250 mm of rain a year, and Malta has received much less so far,” the University of Malta professor said.
The Met Office said that, since the start of the rainfall year, which begins on September 1, 173.2mm of rain has been recorded in Malta. 

Europe is recovering from last year's severe drought thanks to this spring's rain. But under the ground, aquifers are still at a very low level.

Malta has experienced its wettest October in 64 years and the constant rainfall has come as a welcome relief to farmers after a summer of record-breaking heatwaves.

Data from the Met Office showed a total amount of 246.2mm of rainwater fell last month, the wettest since 1957 when 254.2mm was registered.

The wettest October on record was in 1951, with 476.5mm of rainfall.

The rain recorded in the Algarve may give the feeling that the drought will be resolved, but the reality of a gradual drop in rainfall and reserves shows that the region is in a process of desertification, warned a researcher.

A wetter-than-usual spring has caused crops like tomatoes, onions and grapes to spoil because of an “explosion” of mould.
Last month was the most humid May in a decade and June has had an equally steamy start, according to the Meteorological Office. Malcolm Borg, co-ordinator of Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, says the unseasonal rain and humidity of the last few weeks has not been welcomed by farmers.

Portuguese reservoirs were at 77% of capacity on Monday, a
global volume that has been increasing, although there are still cases, in the
south, with dams at less than 20% of capacity.