Meteorological authorities have warned that Cyprus will experience its coldest night of the season on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -3°C in the mountains and 2°C inland.
The Department of Meteorology issued a frost alert for the mountainous and semi-mountainous regions, noting that ice is also likely to form in sheltered inland areas overnight. While the current high-pressure system is keeping the skies largely clear, the lack of cloud cover is contributing to the sharp drop in temperatures.
The cold snap is expected to persist through the weekend, with a gradual shift toward more unsettled conditions:
Thursday: Mostly clear in the morning with increasing local cloud cover by the afternoon. Maximum temperatures will reach 15°C inland and 17°C on the coast.
Fiday: Clouds will thicken by the afternoon, bringing a possibility of isolated showers, primarily in the mountains.
Saturday & Sunday: The weather will remain overcast with intermittent rain, particularly across the western half of the island. Snow or sleet is forecast for the highest peaks of the Troodos range.
Despite the recent cold front, rainfall levels remain significantly below seasonal averages. According to preliminary data released on Wednesday, the average rainfall for January stands at 47.8 millimetres, just 47% of the typical monthly total of 102.4 millimetres.
Since the start of the hydrological year on 1 October, total rainfall has reached 207 millimetres, representing 70% of the normal levels for this period.
Current snow depth at the Chionistra peak is recorded at 30 centimetres.