Torrential rain and vicious hailstorms battered Paphos on Sunday afternoon, transforming coastal landscapes into white winter scenes. The deluge forced the Paphos Fire Station to recall off-duty personnel and establish emergency flood units to handle a surge in distress calls.
Emergency Crews Scramble
Paphos firefighters responded to approximately 15 urgent incidents as the extreme weather intensified after midday. Fire Service spokesperson Andreas Kettis confirmed that crews prioritised pumping water from flooded basements and clearing blocked street drains to restore road safety. Two specialised teams worked through the afternoon to clear the backlog of emergency requests.
Coastal Towns Turn White
The heavy hail blanketed Geroskipou, the western Paphos coastline, and the airport area, creating rare images of “snow-covered” beaches. While providing a vital boost to water reserves, the storms also triggered power outages in several districts and caused disruptions across the island’s mountainous regions.
Forecast: More Rain and Frost Ahead
Low pressure continues to dominate the region, with the following outlook:
Tonight: Expect partial cloud cover and isolated coastal showers. Temperatures will drop to 8°C inland and 4°C in the high mountains, where frost is likely.
Monday: Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will persist, particularly in the afternoon, with sleet or snow possible on the highest peaks.
Mid-week: The unsettled pattern remains through Tuesday with local storms, before the weather begins to settle slightly on Wednesday and Thursday.