February is the month the Maltese islands turn from brown-grey to green. The winter rain has done its work on the fields, the air is cool and clear, and the weather in Malta in February sits at an average high of about 16 C with nights dropping to roughly 9 C. It is the lowest overnight figure of the year in the Luqa station record, which covers 1991 to 2020.
Dry enough to plan around
Rainfall averages about 76 mm in February, on around nine days that reach the 1 mm threshold. That is a little less than January, and the trend continues downward toward spring. The practical reading: about three days in four are dry, and the wet ones are often broken by sunny intervals. If one morning is a write-off, the afternoon may well recover.
Wind matters as much as rain in a month like this. A cold north-westerly can make 16 C feel like 11 C on an exposed headland, while a sheltered courtyard in the sun can feel like a warm spring day. No wind figures are recorded in the data used here, so go by what the day gives you and keep a windproof layer in the bag.
The sea says no
Sea temperature is the coolest of the year at about 15 C (average surface temperature from satellite records, 1991-2020). Nobody swims for pleasure at that level without a wetsuit. If you came for the water, Malta weather in June or later will give a better answer.
That does not make the coast pointless. Boat harbours such as Marsaxlokk Bay are good value in cool weather, with painted fishing boats and the village market, and the light on the water is clear and low.
A calendar that does the work
February is carnival month. Il-Karnival ta’ Malta usually runs through Valletta and Floriana with floats, marching bands and costumes, and the exact dates shift each year. The public holiday for the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck falls on 10 February, and the day is marked in Valletta’s parish church with a procession. Expect some businesses to close and extra traffic around the capital on both counts.
Because the weather is uncertain, carnival is a useful anchor: a trip planned around it has a built-in reason to be in town, and the surrounding days can flex with the forecast.
Where to go
A bright February day is made for walking around fortifications. The bastions of Fort St Elmo catch both wind and sun, and the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo sits inside the same site, so the two can be combined with a place to retreat to indoors.
Gozo is attractive when the countryside is green. The Ggantija Megalithic Temples are an easy half-day, and Victoria with its citadel gives you a town to wander if clouds close in. For gardens, San Anton Gardens shows early colour without needing summer heat.
What to pack
A compact waterproof, a fleece and long trousers are the base. Shoes should be closed and grippy. Sunglasses matter more than people expect: low winter sun on pale limestone is bright. Swimwear can stay at home unless your hotel has a heated pool.
Next to January and March
February’s numbers are very close to January’s: the same average high of about 16 C, a slightly lower average low, and a little less rain. The real difference is felt rather than measured. Days are longer, the sun sits higher, and by the end of the month there are afternoons when a coat comes off. March then adds roughly two degrees to the daytime average and almost halves the rainfall, so a late-February trip often gets a taste of the spring that follows.
Making the most of an uncertain forecast
Because February can swing from bright to wet within a day, choose a base in a town where indoor and outdoor options sit side by side. Valletta suits that, since a museum, a church and a view are all within a short walk. Keep a printed or saved list of what is open on public-holiday dates, and book any timed-entry sites for the morning, leaving the afternoon free.
A note on carnival crowds
If the carnival weekend falls during your visit, treat the capital as busy: allow more time to cross it, and expect road closures and heavier public transport. The countryside and the southern villages stay calm, so they make a good counterweight on those days.
Practical point
Book Gozo ferry crossings and any boat excursions with flexible terms in February, since rough water can cancel sailings at short notice. The wider picture is on the Malta weather overview, and the month that follows is covered under Malta weather in March.
