Warming weather Malta needs (7)
I believe the answer is:
thermal
'warming' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'weather malta needs' is the wordplay.
'needs' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'THERMAL' is hidden within 'weather malta'.
(Other definitions for thermal that I've seen before include "help for glider" , "Caloric" , "Her malt became heat-related" , "Relating to heat" , "type of baths" .)