Cyprus under storm watch ahead of eventful weekend

A weather alert has been issued for Cyprus on Friday, as heavy thunderstones coupled with strong winds are expected throughout the island in the daytime.

Weather officials issued a yellow warning on Friday morning effective from 5:30am through 2pm, warning that isolated thunderstorms could be heavy at times with possible hailstorms in some areas.

A low pressure system is affecting the area with mostly cloudy skies throughout the day, while heavy rain after midnight is expected to affect mainly the western half of the island.

Strong winds in the daytime along with hail during heavy storms are expected in some areas, along with sleet or possibly snow high up in the mountains.

Temperature highs will reach 21 degrees Celsius inland, in the east, and south, 19 in all other coastal areas, while it will be 9 higher up.

Evening lows will drop down to 6 degrees inland, around 10 near the coastline, while it will be 3 high up in the mountains where frost is expected to form overnight.

Temperatures will drop slightly below average on Saturday when a wet and stormy weekend is expected to begin, but they will gradually climb back up until Monday when levels will remain slightly above normal for this time of the year.

Monday weather will remain partly cloudy with moderate chances of isolated showers and possible thunderstorms mainly in the southern half of the island.