Windstorm batters Cyprus’ southern coast

Strong winds are battering the southern coast in Cyprus with heavy rains affecting driving conditions along stretches of highways in the area.

Police said heavy rains along the highway between Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos brought hail in some parts and low visibility on Monday morning, calling on motorists to drive carefully, maintain safe distances, and keep their hazard lights on.

Weather officials upgraded a warning from yellow to orange for Monday early morning through Tuesday late morning, citing locally prolonged and at times heavy precipitation likely to range between 85 and 110 millimeters in a 24-hour period.

Mostly cloudy skies will continue Monday with showers and isolated thunderstorms in many parts of the island, where in some areas phenomena will be intense.

Strong daytime winds are also expected across the island with near gale activity along the southern coast, where it will reach 6 to 7 points on the Beaufort scale.

Temperature highs will reach 16 degrees Celsius inland, around 17 in all coastal regions, while it will be 6 high up in the mountains.

Evening skies will remain mostly cloudy with showers and strong winds, including heavy winds on the southern coast, with temperature lows dropping to 10 degrees inland, around 13 in coastal regions, and 1 degree high up where frost is expected to form overnight.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue Tuesday morning but weather conditions are expected to improve in the afternoon, while Wednesday and Thursday skies will remain mostly cloudy with chances of more rain and thunderstorms.