Cyprus faces a sharp temperature drop, significantly strengthened winds, rain and thunderstorms on Friday, with conditions set to remain unsettled through early next week as a cold air mass affects the island.
Andreas Chrysanthou, a Department of Meteorology official, said the island can expect a significantly strengthened wind field on Friday following the department’s yellow weather warning. Paphos already experienced very strong to violent winds with gusts reaching stormy levels, he said.
Winds of 6-7 Beaufort will affect the entire island, with stormy gusts up to 8 Beaufort, according to Chrysanthou. The warning took effect at 8 am and remains in force until 10 pm. All areas will be affected by the wind field with no geographical specification, he noted.
The island will see light to moderate intensity rain, with isolated thunderstorms already occurring this morning and expected in the coming hours, Chrysanthou said.
Local rain with isolated thunderstorms is forecast, along with snow in the highest mountains. Snow is already falling on the highest Troodos peaks and is expected to reach lower altitudes gradually, he added.
Temperatures dropped sharply compared to Thursday. Thursday’s temperatures ranged from 19-20 degrees Celsius, reaching 23 degrees in coastal areas, whilst Friday will see 15-17 degrees—a drop of almost 5-6 degrees generally across the island, Chrysanthou said.
The highest mountains will experience a much larger drop, with maximum temperatures possibly remaining in single digits near 4 degrees today—a drop of almost 10 degrees compared to Thursday, he said.
Saturday will bring a small temperature rise and temporary weakening of the wind field, though rain is expected with a lower chance of thunderstorms and snow in the highest mountains, according to Chrysanthou.
Sunday will see the wind field strengthen again, bringing rain, isolated thunderstorms and snow in the highest mountains, with temperatures remaining at Saturday levels, he said.
Monday will follow the same pattern with local rain and isolated thunderstorms, though Cyprus will be affected by a cold air mass again with a possibly noticeable temperature drop, Chrysanthou added.
Monday and Tuesday will see very low temperatures compared to Friday, possibly with rain, thunderstorms and snow in the higher mountains, he said. Conditions will be more favourable for snow in the higher mountains from Monday onwards, according to Chrysanthou.
Whirlwinds are possible in the strengthened wind field in coastal and mountainous areas where wind channelling occurs, Chrysanthou said.
Hail cannot be ruled out during thunderstorms, he added, noting these phenomena will shape the weather scenario over the five days.
(information from CNA)
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