Remembering 18th July 2006: An isolated back building thunderstorm affected the extreme northeast of Malta, especially Marsascala, Zabbar and the Cottonera area.
Heavy rainfall was measured in these areas lasting for about 2 hours in Marsascala from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Rainfall measured was 46.0mm at Marsascala, 28.2mm at Vittoriosa and 25.0mm at Zabbar. A waterspout lasting about 10 minutes was also seen over St Thomas Bay, Marsascala at around 11.45am.
A back building thunderstorm is one in which new cells develop on the upwind rather than the more normal downwind side, i.e. to the west or southwest. Because of this behaviour, the storm may appear to be stationary, or even to develop ‘backwards’, that is, upwind.
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Portanier Mifsud.
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