Cyprus braces for heavy rain as orange warning covers Wednesday night
Meteorologists have issued an orange alert for intense rainfall from 7pm Wednesday to 5am Thursday, with storms, hail and strong gusts expected across the island.
The Department of Meteorology has put Cyprus under an orange-level warning for severe rain, in force from 7pm on Wednesday until 5am on Thursday, as reported by Cyprus Mail. Downpours could reach 55 to 70 millimetres per hour, accompanied by shifting winds.
Wednesday itself starts largely overcast with scattered showers and a possible thunderstorm, first affecting the western districts and the mountains, before heavier, longer-lasting cells and local storms spread eastwards later in the day. Hail may fall in storm-hit spots, and gusts could turn very strong near exposed coasts, where the sea will build from slight-moderate to rough.
Daytime highs should touch about 26C inland and along the shore, dropping to roughly 16C on the higher peaks. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast to linger into Thursday before easing, while Friday and Saturday look partly cloudy with occasional cells, mainly over the mountains, and temperatures holding below the seasonal norm.
What it means for residents
An orange warning is a step below the highest red level, so it is worth treating Wednesday evening seriously rather than as an ordinary wet night.
- Roads: heavy bursts in a short window can flood low-lying streets and reduce visibility, so plan evening and early-morning journeys with extra time or shift them if you can.
- Homes: check balconies, drains and ground-floor doorways before the rain arrives, and secure anything loose that strong gusts could lift.
- Outdoors: if you are in the mountains or near the coast, keep an eye on updates — hail and rough seas are the parts of this system most likely to catch people out.
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