The best-kept habit of regular visitors is to arrive when everyone else is leaving. September in Malta is the evidence: the average sea temperature at 26 C is within one degree of August, the air at Luqa is about three degrees cooler (highs near 29 C, lows near 21 C), and the beaches have fewer people on them.
Why the sea outlasts the sun
Water holds heat longer than air. After a summer of heating, the sea reaches its yearly peak late and cools slowly, so September sits on a plateau of swimming weather while the sun gives up some of its force. These sea numbers are from satellite surface records east of Malta for 1991-2020, so a particular bay on a particular day can differ, but the pattern is dependable.
For the swimmer this is nearly perfect. You can stay in the water, walk the shore at midday without suffering, and leave the beach at six rather than at four.
The change in the sky
Rain returns. The average total is about 58 mm, on roughly four days of 1 mm or more, after a summer that averaged close to nothing. September weather in Malta can break with a short, heavy shower, a few distant rumbles and a cooler evening, then go back to sun. Treat it as an interruption, not a season.
If you are on a boat or at a cliff-edge site when the sky darkens, listen to local advice. Otherwise, a light waterproof in a daypack covers it.
Public holidays and big dates
The Feast of Our Lady of Victories (Il-Vittorja) falls on 8 September, and Independence Day on 21 September. The Malta International Air Show has usually been held in September at the airport, and the WSOP Circuit Malta runs from late September into October at Casino Malta. Each of these may affect hotel availability and traffic, so check dates if you are travelling for something else.
Where September works
Boat days are at their best. The Blue Lagoon is warm and clear, and for a calmer alternative on Malta, Paradise Bay in the north is reached by a steep stair. Pretty Bay and St. George’s Bay suit a short stop with children.
Sightseeing is comfortable again. The Three Cities reward a slow walk along the harbour, and the Fort Saint Angelo view of Valletta is best late in the day. Diving is excellent: the sea is warm, and the HMS Maori Destroyer Wreck is a classic dive for the month.
Reading a September forecast
Look at two things: the rain chance for the hours you plan to be outside, and the wind. A forecast of showers in the afternoon often means a narrow band that passes within an hour or two. Wind matters more for boats than for the beach, and a day with a stiff north-westerly may cancel a Comino crossing even if the sky is clear. Ask your hotel or the operator the evening before.
What to pack
Summer clothes, a layer for the evening, a compact rain jacket, swimwear, reef shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Keep a dry bag if you plan a boat trip and the sky looks unsettled.
One degree off the sea, three off the air
The sea falls by less than one degree (27 C to 26 C), while the average high eases by about three degrees (32 C to 29 C) and the low by two (23 C to 21 C). Rain moves from the 17 mm of August to about 58 mm. This is why regulars call September the best month for sea and sun together: you keep the water, lose some heat, and gain a few clouds that make photographs better and afternoons easier.
What to do about the rain
The new feature is the shower. Check the forecast each morning and watch the sky over the sea. A late afternoon shower often clears by dinner, leaving the air fresher. If you are on a boat trip when a storm approaches, the crew will decide whether to head back; follow their lead. For sightseeing days, carry a packable jacket and leave the big umbrella in the hotel.
An easy month for movement
With the oppressive part of summer gone, September is a good time to cover ground. Hiring a car or using buses is more comfortable, and trips that were sapping in July, such as the south-west cliffs or Mdina at midday, are manageable again.
Planning point
September is the month to choose if you want the sea of August and a gentler day. It is also a popular choice for diving trips and for couples, so book early. For how it compares with the other months, see the Malta weather overview; for the next stage, read Malta weather in October.
