Newsroom
Happy Independence Day, Cyprus! Today, October 1, the Republic of Cyprus celebrates its 66th anniversary, marking the establishment of the island as an independent state in 1960. And naturally, Cyprus is celebrating in its own particular style: with a military parade, aircraft overhead, National Guard personnel and vehicles rolling through the streets, while the weather looks ready to add a little drama of its own.
The annual Independence Day celebrations will bring plenty of activity to Nicosia, with the traditional military parade featuring marching personnel, military vehicles and aircraft. So if you hear something rumbling, marching or flying overhead this morning, it is very much part of the celebrations. The National Guard has also carried out flight preparations ahead of today's parade.
And if you happen to be in Larnaca, there is an extra maritime treat. Two military vessels, the National Guard's offshore patrol vessel Ioannidis and the Hellenic Navy frigate Nikiforos Fokas, will be docked at Larnaca Port and open to the public today from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00.
So, yes, there are tanks, aircraft and military ships. And then there is the weather, quietly saying: I would also like to participate.
Today
A low-pressure system is hanging around, bringing unstable weather to the island on Independence Day.
This morning, isolated showers or a thunderstorm may pop up along the coast. From around midday, the weather becomes a little more mischievous, with local showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly affecting the mountains, inland areas and the northern and western coasts.
Hail is possible during thunderstorms, so if you are heading out to watch the celebrations, it might be worth having something waterproof within reach. Cyprus has apparently decided that Independence Day deserves a little cinematic weather.
Winds will generally be southwesterly to northwesterly, starting light to moderate at 3 to 4 Beaufort before becoming stronger, reaching 5 Beaufort along the southern coast in the afternoon. During thunderstorms, winds may temporarily jump to 5 or 6 Beaufort, with stronger gusts.
The sea will be slightly rough, although sheltered areas will remain calm to slightly rough.
Temperatures will reach around 27°C inland and along the southern and eastern coasts, 26°C on the remaining coasts and around 16°C in the higher mountains.
Tonight will be partly cloudy, with isolated showers or a thunderstorm possible along the coast. Winds will remain mainly southwesterly to northwesterly, light and initially locally moderate at 3 to 4 Beaufort. The sea will stay slightly rough, with sheltered areas keeping things a little calmer.
The long weekend
If you were hoping today's weather drama would be a one-day Independence Day special, the forecast says otherwise.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected at intervals. During the mornings and nights, these will mainly affect the coasts and mountains, while during the rest of the day they may also wander inland. And yes, hail is expected during thunderstorms.
Temperatures are not expected to change significantly and will remain below the seasonal average, so Cyprus is giving us a rather chilly opening act for October. In other words, today's programme is looking something like this: military parade, aircraft, tanks, flags, warships, sunshine, showers, thunder, possible hail... and Cyprus being Cyprus.
Happy 66th, Cyprus.
And if you're heading out to celebrate, maybe pack the sunglasses and the umbrella. Just in case.
