Weather warning climbs to orange

Weather officials have raised the awareness level from yellow to orange, effective from Tuesday through Wednesday at 11am, with towns bracing for yet another stormy night.

Previously, a yellow warning had been issued but officials were still criticized for not warning the public ahead of time. On Tuesday around 2am, Nicosia and Limassol were pounded with severe weather, included heavy storms, gale force winds, and hail, resulting to road flooding and property damages.

The Meteorology department later revised its forecast, saying “heavy thunderstorms probably accompanied by hail will affect the area” where rain water accumulation possibly could exceed 70 milimetres in a six-hour period, more than double the estimate issued hours earlier.

The heaviest impact is expected to take place after midnight, according to Kathimerini Cyprus.

Wednesday skies will remain mostly cloudy with chances of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms, while a hail storm is also expected. Maximum highs will reach 19 degrees inland, 20 along the coast, and 9 in the mountains.

Clouds will also dominate Thursday skies for the most part while local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, with hail not ruled out in heavy stormy weather.

Rain will continue on Friday expected only in the early parts of the day, while Saturday will be partly cloudy with low chances of rain showers and thunderstorms.

Temperatures on the whole will drop slightly as the week progresses, until by the end of the week they reach just below normal averages for this time of the year.