Cyprus enters a more unsettled pattern over the next few days as high pressure retreats and a shallow low develops over the central and eastern Mediterranean. While no severe weather alerts are currently in force, conditions will shift from calm and mild to more variable, with passing showers and a cooler feel.
Saturday
Forecasts from the Department of Meteorology and indicate a mostly cloudy but generally steady day. Inland temperatures hover around 19 degrees, coastal areas reach about 20 degrees and the higher mountains remain closer to 12. Winds stay light to moderate and the sea is calm to slightly rough.
KitasWeather notes that locally increased cloud is expected at times, particularly in western and northern areas. Any showers today are likely to be brief and isolated.
Sunday
The Meteorological Service issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for Sunday.
The warning will be in effect from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Tomorrow the weather will be mostly cloudy and gradually local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, initially over the western half of the island and later in other areas. Hail is possible during a thunderstorm. Winds will be mainly northeast to southeast, light to moderate, 3 to 4 Beaufort, and at times locally moderate to strong, 4 to 5 Beaufort. Winds will strengthen and shift during storms. The sea will be slightly rough at first, gradually becoming slightly rough to rough. Temperatures will rise to around 19 degrees inland and on the coasts and around 11 degrees in the higher mountains.
Tomorrow night the weather will soon become partly cloudy, with the possibility of isolated showers mainly in coastal areas. Winds will blow mainly northeast to southeast, light to moderate, 3 to 4 Beaufort, and the sea will be slightly rough.
Monday
The low passes closer to Cyprus, increasing the likelihood of more widespread local rain and isolated thunderstorms. Showers may occur intermittently across several districts, with western, northern and higher-altitude areas again seeing the most active weather.
Temperatures remain slightly below the seasonal norm. Inland and coastal highs reach 16 to 17 degrees, while the highest peaks hover near freezing. Night-time temperatures fall to 8–10 degrees in urban areas, lower in rural and mountainous zones.
December has already been wetter than usual, with cumulative rainfall surpassing 60 percent of the monthly average, according to KitasWeather assessments of national meteorological data.
Despite the shift towards instability, the Department of Meteorology has issued no warnings. Drivers are advised to remain cautious in case of reduced visibility, slippery surfaces or sudden, localised downpours, especially at higher elevations and after sunset.
Sources: Cyprus Department of Meteorology, KitasWeather