Severe thunderstorms loom over Cyprus

Heavy rain has been happening in mountainous areas of the island since Monday afternoon.

Remember, there's an orange rain and thunderstorm warning in effect since 11:00 a.m.

The Department of Meteorology stated that isolated thunderstorms will mainly affect mountainous areas, the north, and the eastern half of the island. The rain is expected to be between 55 and 70 mm per hour, and there might be hail.

Low pressure and unstable weather are causing these conditions. In the afternoon, the weather will be partly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Hail might happen during thunderstorms. The winds will blow from the southwest to northwest, lightly to moderately, at 3 to 4 Beaufort, and the sea will be a bit rough.

Due to a fallen tree, the road from Kakopetria to Katydata, located within the village of Kaliana, is temporarily closed to traffic. The police have marked off this section of the road, and crews are currently working to remove the tree and widen the roadway.

Simultaneously, heavy torrential rains in the Solea area have made the Sinai Mountain to Kakopetria road perilous due to significant landslides involving soil and stones.

We strongly advise drivers to exercise extreme caution in these conditions.

Tonight, the weather will be mostly cloudy with some high clouds. Expect showers and isolated thunderstorms. Winds will mainly come from the southwest to northwest, with some local variability, and they will be light at 3 Beaufort. The sea will be calm to slightly choppy. Temperatures will drop to around 24 degrees inland and on the coast and around 17 degrees in the higher mountains.

Tomorrow, it will be mainly cloudy with some high clouds, and there might be isolated showers or thunderstorms. It should become mostly clear by late afternoon. Winds will be from the northeast to southeast, light to moderate, at 3 to 4 Beaufort, with similar intensity northwest winds in the west. The sea will be a bit rough.

Temperatures will rise to around 31 degrees inland and on the coast, and around 23 degrees in the higher mountains. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the weather will be mostly clear, and temperatures will gradually increase over these three days, hovering slightly above average values.

[Information sourced from Cyprus Met Service]