Malta breaks records on the hottest June since 1923

Last month was the hottest June recorded in Malta since 1923, according to weather experts.

Sizzling temperatures soared to 37.8°C during the first heatwave of summer, making June 9 the hottest day of the month.

The Met Office in Luqa said last month was also among the driest on record, with no rain measured.

Malta was not the only country to feel the heat this summer as, with temperatures across Europe soaring June the hottest on record in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Fewer clouds resulted in longer hours of bright sunshine for the Maltese Islands, where the sun shone for 349.9 hours throughout June, beating the climate norm by almost 22 hours.

The brightest day was recorded on June 3 with 13.1 hours of sunshine.

As Malta basked in summer sunshine, thousands flocked to the beaches dotting the island to enjoy a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean Sea, where the average sea temperature stood at 22.5 °C, one degree warmer than the climate norm of 21.5°C.