Summer showers in Cyprus are a common seasonal phenomenon and are not linked to climate change, Meteorological Officer Andreas Chrysanthou, told CNA here on Saturday, noting this year's summer is expected to be warm and dry, with no significant deviations from previous years.
In statements to the Cyprus News Agency, Chrysanthou said that studies by the Meteorological Department and the island’s climatology show that atmospheric instability at this time of year is "a very common phenomenon, particularly in the mountainous and interior regions," where such conditions traditionally occur and may continue until mid-July.
He added that episodes of instability have even been recorded in August, stressing that "these summer showers are a common phenomenon, especially in the mountainous areas," and should not be attributed to climate change.
According to Chrysanthou, the period from mid-July to mid-August is traditionally the hottest of the year in Cyprus, when atmospheric instability becomes limited due to the dry conditions prevailing over the island.
June will end with high temperatures
Referring to temperatures, he said that June is expected to end with values slightly above the seasonal average. While average maximum temperatures for the period are usually around 33–34 degrees in inland areas, this month is expected to conclude with averages of around 37 degrees.
Looking ahead, he said Cyprus is expected to experience a warm and dry summer, with the highest temperatures anticipated between mid-July and mid-August.
"During this period, we traditionally expect to reach 40 degrees again. We may even exceed 40 degrees this year in the interior areas. There are no trends indicating anything different," he noted.
Weather until Wednesday
Regarding the weather over the coming days, Chrysanthou said temperatures are expected to rise gradually through Tuesday, accompanied by continued atmospheric fluctuations affecting mainly mountainous and inland areas.
He explained that although most parts of the island will experience mainly clear skies with occasional cloud cover, local showers and isolated thunderstorms remain possible in some inland areas, particularly on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
The instability is expected to persist until Wednesday before gradually subsiding, after which mainly clear weather is forecast.
Chrysanthou added that temperatures are expected to reach around 33 degrees in inland areas on Saturday before gradually increasing to between 35 and 37 degrees by Tuesday.
He also clarified that references to "interior areas" mainly concern the Mesaoria valley, where the flat terrain heats evenly and favours the rapid development of convective clouds and thunderstorms.
Source: CNA
