Storm Harry over Malta through the eyes of our monitoring systems

During Storm Harry on 20 January 2026, the Oceanography Malta Research Group (OMRG) within the Department of Geosciences tracked rapidly changing marine and atmospheric conditions in real-time.

Led by Prof. Alan Deidun, the team notes that Maltese waters have been showing a long-term tendency to warm more in summer and cool less in winter. Warmer seas can increase the energy available to storm systems, reinforcing the importance of continuous monitoring as extreme weather events affect the central Mediterranean.

While strong winds were felt across the islands, the observing systems of OMRG continued to record the storm’s passage. The HF radar network around Malta, linked with radar coverage in Sicily through international collaborations, measured surface currents offering insight into how the sea responded.

Key observations were also captured by the recently deployed multiparametric buoy BLUE, located offshore at the entrance of the Grand Harbour and managed by Prof. Adam Gauci. During the storm, BLUE recorded exceptional conditions, including its highest individual wave since deployment in April 2025. A peak wave height of 13.14 m was recorded at 09:59, about twice the height of the Triton Fountain when its jets are on! Shortly afterwards, the storm produced its roughest overall sea state, with a significant wave height of 8.61 m at 10:19. Near-surface currents also intensified, reaching about 2.5 knots (around 4.6 km/h), with the strongest flow directed southwards. Live video feeds from coastal cameras provided additional, real-time context on sea conditions, supporting situational awareness during the event.

 

Along the coast, meteorological stations installed around Malta to support safe navigation, captured continuous data and transmitted measurements every minute in real-time to the University of Malta. During Storm Harry, a maximum wind gust of 26.30 m/s (around 95 km/h) was recorded.

OMRG also monitors thunderstorm activity as systems approach and pass over Malta. Between 10:00 and 22:00, the LINET sensor detected 667 lightning events, with the busiest period between 18:00 and 19:00. Of these, 63 occurred within 20 km of Malta and eight were recorded over Maltese land. The strongest land event, measured +42.6 kA at 18:40, occurred in the Marsaxlokk area.

OMRG’s ocean observing infrastructure is coordinated by Prof. Adam Gauci, with Audrey Zammit and David Montano leading data processing, analysis, and visualisation. Although these datasets are extremely valuable, monitoring systems are costly to procure, operate, and maintain. OMRG relies largely on EU funding to upgrade and sustain this infrastructure, and major storms can still cause damage, particularly at exposed sites and coastal areas.

Sharing these observations with the public is an important part of OMRG’s work. Events like Storm Harry highlight the value of continuous, real-time monitoring in a changing climate, helping improve understanding, preparedness and public safety.