Wintry weather slams Cyprus

A low pressure system moving across the eastern Mediterranean is affecting Cyprus, with officials on the island issuing a flood warning and police warning motorists to drive carefully.

Weather officials issued a yellow warning for Monday from early morning at 5am through the afternoon, at 4pm, citing chances of isolated thunderstorms with rain accumulation likely to exceed 50 millimeters in a 6-hour period.

Monday skies will remain mostly cloudy with rain and isolated thunderstorms, with chances of hail during extreme or extended showers in some local areas.

Strong winds are also expected throughout the day, while reports on state radio Monday morning spoke of a severe hailstorm in Galata village in rural Nicosia.

According to Cypriot officials, a low pressure system moving from the west over Crete is also affecting the island of Cyprus, bringing more rain to the region. Weather experts say such westbound storm tracks holding together into the Middle East system are not common except during periods around the end of the year.

Temperature highs on Monday will reach 18 degrees Celsius inland, around 19 in coastal areas, and 8 high up in the mountains.

Snow or sleet is expected at the highest elevations both during daytime and in the evening, when temperature lows will drop down to 10 degrees in the interior, around 13 along the coast, and 5 high up in the mountains.

No significant change is expected in the following couple of days, while temperatures will start to climb on Thursday to reach levels slightly above normal averages for this time of the year.

Police officials were urging motorists to drive carefully, reminding them to slow down, maintain safe distances from other vehicles, and turn on their headlights in wet conditions or low visibility.

Car drivers should avoid puddles and standing water that can cause vehicles to hydroplane, especially those not traveling at low speeds.