Formation of widespread high-level clouds with some altocumulus clouds in the background with falling precipitation not reaching the surface. These formation of upper-level and mid-level clouds in general was due to a lee low pressure that developed over Northern Italy due to the blockage of a cooler airmass which then moved southeastwards towards the Ionian Sea. Such clouds indicate the approach of an Atlantic weather system over the area which in this case produced bad weather over the following days in the Ionian Sea and Sicily but only cumulus clouds over the Maltese Islands. The first, second and third thumbnails show the weather sounding indicating lots of upper-level moisture and instability, the low pressure system over coastal Northern Italy and the corresponding widespread cirri-form clouds passing towards the Islands.