Significant African dust concentrations will affect Cyprus periodically until Saturday morning, the Met Department warned on Friday, as a spell of unsettled weather brings rain, storms and hail through the weekend.
The dust episode, caused by cyclonic activity north of Egypt, is in force from 18:00 on Friday, April 17, until 06:00 on Saturday, April 18, with concentrations expected to be particularly elevated at certain periods, according to a special bulletin issued at 18:00 on Thursday. Dust will remain in the atmosphere until Sunday.
Tonight will be mainly cloudy, with isolated rain expected later in the west and north and an isolated storm possible. Fog or patchy fog may form locally in the early morning hours, particularly inland and in the east. Winds will blow from the northeast to southeast, weakening to light to moderate force at 3 to 4 Beaufort. The sea will be initially slightly rough to rough, gradually becoming generally slightly rough. Temperatures will fall to around 14 degrees Celsius inland, around 16 degrees on the coast and around 8 degrees in the higher mountain areas.
Saturday will bring mainly cloudy skies with local rain and isolated storms, starting in the west and spreading gradually across the island. Hail is possible during storms. Morning winds will blow mainly from the south to southwest, shifting gradually to southwest to northwest at generally moderate force of 4 Beaufort, reaching strong force of 5 Beaufort on the coast. Winds will become variable and strengthen during storms. Temperatures will reach around 21 degrees inland and on the coast, and around 12 degrees in the higher mountains.
On Saturday night, locally increased cloud will bring isolated rain in the west and north. Winds will blow from the southwest to northwest at light to moderate force of 3 to 4 Beaufort, reaching strong force of 4 to 5 Beaufort temporarily on the coast. The sea will be calm to slightly rough in the east and slightly rough on other coasts.
Sunday will remain mainly cloudy, with isolated rain in the morning mainly on the coasts, followed by local rain and isolated storms in the afternoon, chiefly over the mountains and the eastern half of the island. Hail is again possible in storms.
Monday will be partly cloudy with isolated rain or storms possible after midday, mainly in the mountains. Tuesday will be mainly clear with locally increased cloud at intervals.
Temperatures are not expected to change significantly until Tuesday, remaining slightly below seasonal averages throughout the period.