Cyprus under warning as weather could turn violent

An unstable air mass is affecting areas over Cyprus, with a yellow warning in effect Thursday due to high chances of midday showers and thunderstorms, including heavy winds and possible hailstorms

Mostly clear weather is expected Thursday but increasing cloud formations in the early part of the day could bring showers and isolated thunderstorms in the interior around noon and in the afternoon.

An inclement weather alert will be in effect from 11am through 5:30pm, with local showers and isolated thunderstorms including possible hailstorms expected in areas of the interior and other parts in the mountains. Precipitation could range between 45 and 50 millimeters per hour, officials said.

Heavy winds of variable direction are possible in parts affected by abrupt thunderstorms due to unsettled weather patterns in some areas, while very strong winds are also expected along the southern coastline.

Temperature highs will reach 38 degrees Celsius inland, around 34 in the west, around 36 in all other coastal regions, while it will be 29 high up in the mountains.

Evening skies will become gradually mostly clear for the most part, with temperature lows dropping to 26 inland, east, and southeast, around 24 in all other coastal areas, while it will 18 degrees higher up.

A slight temperature rise inland is expected on Saturday, when skies will be mostly clear but clouds will move in around midday with low chances of rain mainly in the mountains.

Unsettled weather is not expected to last through the weekend, while Sunday and Monday temperatures will remain roughly the same.