Cyprus has recorded an exceptionally wet start to October, with rainfall during the first half of the month already surpassing the long-term average for the entire month.
According to data available up to the morning of 15 October, rainfall reached 157% of the normal October average, raising hopes for water reserves after years of drought concerns. The figures are particularly striking given that more than two weeks remain before the month ends.
The rainfall has also begun to feed into the island’s reservoirs, where inflows have increased in recent days. While officials caution against complacency, current water levels are significantly higher than those recorded at the same time last year.
Where the most rain fell
Data from the Meteorological Department show that average rainfall between 1 October and the morning of 15 October reached 51.2mm, compared with the normal monthly average of 32.7mm.
The highest totals were recorded in:
- Gefyri tis Panagias: 81.2mm (260% of average)
- Polis Chrysochous: 88.2mm (228%)
- Platania: 88.8mm (189%)
- Prodromos: 83.3mm (177%)
- Pano Panagia: 76.6mm (161%)
During the past 24 hours alone, Prodromos recorded 43.9mm of rainfall, followed by Platania with 38.8mm, Gefyri tis Panagias with 34.3mm and Pano Panagia with 33.3mm.
The lowest October rainfall was recorded at Larnaca Airport, where only 9mm fell, representing 29% of the area's monthly average.
Reservoir inflows rise
According to the Water Development Department, Cyprus' major reservoirs contained 102.76 million cubic metres of water on 15 October, equivalent to 35.3% of total capacity.
A year earlier, reserves stood at just 33.62 million cubic metres, or 11.6% capacity.
Since the start of October, reservoirs have received 857,000 cubic metres of water, including 251,000 cubic metres during the previous 24 hours alone.
Notably, inflows during the first 15 days of October have already surpassed the 95,000 cubic metres recorded during the whole of October last year.
Reservoir levels significantly higher than last year
At Kouris Dam, Cyprus' largest reservoir, water storage has reached 42.21 million cubic metres, representing 36.7% capacity, compared with 10.6% a year ago.
Other major reservoirs also show significant improvement:
- Asprokremmos: 35.4% full
- Germasogeia: 47.8%
- Kannaviou: 41.9%
- Arminou: 64%
Among smaller reservoirs, Xyliatos and Vyzakia are recording particularly high levels of 74.8% and 71.1% respectively.
Encouraging start, but challenges remain
While the strong start to October has boosted optimism ahead of the winter season, experts caution that a single wet month will not solve Cyprus' long-term water challenges.
The impact on reservoirs depends not only on the amount of rainfall but also on where and how it falls, as well as conditions within catchment areas.
For now, however, October has already comfortably exceeded its normal rainfall average, offering an encouraging beginning to the new hydrological year.
