Unusually warm sea may herald storms

This year’s exceptionally high sea temperature may be a catalyst for storms but for the time being only showers are expected, a Met Office spokeswoman said yesterday. The mean sea temperature in August from 1981 to 2010 was 24.7˚C. This year, the sea was already warmer in July, with a mean value of 26.3 ˚C. Right now it stands at 28˚C, nearly a warm bath. Asked whether the recent spell of hot, sticky weather was related to this phenomenon, the airport’s Met Office spokeswoman said a higher sea surface temperature had no immediate effect on the air temperature or the weather in... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.