MaltaPost suspends deliveries until end of storm

MaltaPost has announced the immediate suspension of mail delivery services due to severe weather conditions.

In a statement, the company said the decision was taken in line with a directive issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and in the interest of employee safety.

“Due to the current extreme weather conditions, today’s mail delivery has been suspended with immediate effect,” MaltaPost said.

According to the Meteorological Office, east-southeasterly winds are expected to strengthen to Force 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts reaching Force 10 in the most exposed areas. These conditions are forecast to persist until Tuesday evening, with winds potentially escalating to a severe gale.

A red warning for gale-force winds is currently in effect until Tuesday at noon, with further wind warnings likely in the coming days.

The adverse weather is being driven by a deepening low-pressure system over Algeria, which is forecast to extend into the central Mediterranean and intensify as it moves towards Tunisia. At the same time, a strong high-pressure system over the Balkans is creating a steep pressure gradient, resulting in strong and persistent winds over the Maltese Islands.