Local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected in Cyprus from Wednesday night through to Sunday, while a yellow warning for strong thunderstorms on Thursday is considered all but certain, mainly for inland areas and the mountains, according to the Meteorology Department’s Andreas Hadjigeorgiou.
Speaking to CNA,Hadjigeorgiou said a low-pressure system centred over northern Egypt is moving towards the region and is expected to affect Cyprus from Wednesday night, initially bringing isolated showers in the afternoon and later local showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
On Thursday, local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected mainly after midday, though they may also occur earlier, while a yellow warning for strong thunderstorms is “almost certain” to be issued, lasting from around noon until late afternoon, he said.
Hadjigeorgiou added the first weather system will be followed by a new disturbance from the west, which will move eastwards and affect the region from Friday through Sunday. “So we are looking at two successive disturbances. One is from Egypt and moving northwards, and the other is from the west and will be moving eastwards,” he said.
Possible snow at weekend over Troodos
From Friday through Sunday, he continued, unstable weather conditions are expected to prevail, with occasional local showers and isolated thunderstorms, some of which are likely to be intense, while snow or sleet may fall on the highest peaks of Troodos.
Regarding temperatures, the meteorology official said they will reach 22 degrees Celsius today inland and on the coast, well above the seasonal average, and 16 degrees in the higher mountains.
On Thursday, he added, temperatures are expected to range between 20 and 21 degrees inland and on the coast, while on Saturday they are set to drop slightly further to just below the seasonal average for the period, which is around 19 to 20 degrees inland and on the coast, and 11 degrees in the higher mountains.
At the same time, he said a warning has already been issued for Cyprus’ coastal areas, aimed mainly at fishermen, for very strong and at times near-gale northeasterly to easterly winds of force 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale.
He also noted that the winds, which are currently northeasterly, are expected in the coming days to turn southwesterly to northwesterly, strengthening at times in association with the second system.
Source: CNA