40 c — 40 c — Cyprus is gearing up for a scorching spell with inland temperatures projected to soar to 40°C starting this Sunday and lasting until Wednesday. The Department of Meteorology has indicated that it may issue daily yellow warnings for high temperatures during this period.
Meteorological officer Mattheos Papadakis confirmed that the mercury will climb significantly over the four-day stretch, with the first yellow warning anticipated to be issued on Saturday afternoon. He explained that these warnings will depend on the current weather conditions.
Currently, temperatures are around 2°C to 2.5°C above the seasonal norm, yet Papadakis clarified that the country is not facing a heatwave. A heatwave is defined by a combination of high temperatures, humidity, and wind conditions, and at this time, those factors do not qualify. For instance, today, inland areas are expected to hit 39°C, while the western coast will see a drop to 31°C and temperatures across other coastal regions will hover around 33°C. Higher mountain areas may experience a cooler 27°C.
As the weekend approaches, temperatures are set to escalate further. Starting tomorrow, inland areas will witness temperatures consistently around 40°C, while the southern and eastern coasts will reach 35°C. The western and northern coasts will see slightly lower temperatures of 32°C, and the higher mountains will remain at about 30°C. Papadakis reiterated that the department will likely issue a yellow warning for high temperatures inland, indicating that the same weather conditions are expected to persist into Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
In terms of humidity, Papadakis mentioned that levels are generally low, except at night along the coast where thin fog and low clouds may develop. This pattern suggests a somewhat manageable climate for those familiar with the summer heat.
Addressing recent comments about the summer being mild so far, Papadakis noted that while temperatures had aligned closely with seasonal averages earlier, it appears that Cyprus is now entering a phase of notably higher temperatures.
