By Weather Malta · Published 30 July 2026 · Updated
Read where the wind comes from
A north-west wind comes from the north-west and travels towards the south-east. Keep that distinction in mind when reading arrows: Weather.mt’s arrows point in the direction of travel, while the named wind direction identifies its origin. Direction describes a relationship with the coast, rather than a permanent character assigned to an island.
Read speed, direction and the time together. Twelve knots from the north-west and twelve knots from the south-east have the same speed, but they do not put the same shore in the wind. Start with the place and the hours you intend to use.
Three Maltese wind names to recognise
| Maltese name | Comes from | Travels towards |
|---|---|---|
| Majjistral | North-west · NW | South-east · SE |
| Grigal | North-east · NE | South-west · SW |
| Xlokk | South-east · SE | North-west · NW |
These names give the wind’s direction. They do not, by themselves, specify its strength, wave height or whether an activity can go ahead. Read the current numerical forecast instead of treating a wind name as a complete weather report.
How the coast changes the picture
A shore facing into the wind has a more onshore exposure; one facing away has a more offshore exposure. Cross-shore wind falls between those cases. The examples below apply the shoreline directions in Weather.mt’s beach dataset. They are orientation comparisons, not measurements of wave height at those beaches.
Weather.mt illustration using our shoreline-orientation dataset. Coastline: geoBoundaries, public domain. Exposure indicates the direction a shore faces; it does not establish sea state at that shore.
| Shore | Faces in our dataset | Example wind origin | What the orientation suggests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bay, Malta | WNW | NW · Majjistral | Wind comes towards this side of the coast. |
| Golden Bay, Malta | WNW | SE · Xlokk | Wind comes from the landward side; offshore exposure. |
| Ramla Bay, Gozo | NE | NE · Grigal | Wind comes towards this shore. |
| Blue Lagoon, Comino | WNW | NW · Majjistral | This orientation is exposed towards the wind; do not assume the lagoon is always sheltered. |
Individual headlands, beach sections and landing points can differ from the simplified direction assigned to a whole shore. The map and table explain the comparison; they do not replace looking at the actual place. Check regional waves and local notices as well.
Wind speed, units and Beaufort
Metres per second, kilometres per hour and knots are different units for wind speed. Beaufort expresses strength as a force number. The conversions below help compare displays; they do not give a wave height for a bay.
| Speed | Approximate knots | Beaufort force |
|---|---|---|
| 4 m/s | 7.8 | 3 |
| 6.3 m/s | 12.2 | 4 |
| 10 m/s | 19.4 | 5 |
| 12 m/s | 23.3 | 6 |
A gust and a regular forecast wind-speed value are different measures. Read a gust field separately when a source supplies one. An absent gust value does not establish that no gusts will occur.
A worked example: the wind turns during the day
Imagine a forecast with 12-knot north-westerly wind at departure and 12-knot south-easterly wind at return. The strength is unchanged, but the direction has reversed. A west-north-west-facing shore moves from an onshore comparison to an offshore comparison. This is an illustrative scenario, not today’s forecast.
Next check the wave forecast for both hours. Waves can reflect earlier wind and arriving swell, so a wind change does not instantly produce a matching change in the sea. The return journey and its landing deserve a separate check.
What the sheltered-shores page calculates
Weather.mt compares forecast wind direction with a simplified facing direction for each shore. It does not measure water movement at the beach or model every headland. The displayed rating describes estimated wind shelter. It does not rate swimming safety, currents, water quality or access.
Offshore wind can move wind-affected craft away from the coast. A lower onshore exposure is therefore not an automatic recommendation to enter the water. Follow beach flags, current local notices and the advice of the operator responsible for an activity.
Use the current forecast for the whole outing
Read the locality forecast’s source and issue time, then inspect the wind during departure, time outside and return. Compare it with the regional marine forecast. Conditions at an individual shore can differ from either model point.
- Malta three-day marine forecast
- Comino weather today and the next seven days
- Marine weather: wind, waves and swell explained
- How our forecast sources work
Put the guide in context: local weather questions answered · explore the weather archive.