Cyprus issues red weather warning as temperatures set to reach 45°C on Wednesday, Thursday

Exceptionally high temperatures are expected on Wednesday and Thursday across the island of Cyprus, with temperatures reaching up to 45°C inland, 37°C in mountainous areas and 37-39°C in coastal regions.

The Cyprus Meteorology service issued a red weather warning for these two days, which will be the hottest and final days of the current hot period.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, met office expert Andreas Chrysanthou said on Tuesday that Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be the hottest days and the last days of the current heatwave, with temperatures set to rise to a maximum of 45C inland, 39C on the coasts, and 37C in the mountains.

After that, he said, temperatures will drop on Friday, with a maximum expected temperature between 40 and 42C, before the mercury will fall below 40 across the island on Saturday.

Return to normal conditions

From Saturday onwards, temperatures will return to normal seasonal levels (37-38°C inland), whilst isolated showers in mountainous areas are not ruled out at the beginning of next week.

The red warning represents the highest level of weather alert, indicating dangerous conditions that pose a significant threat to health and safety. Authorities advise the public to take extreme precautions during outdoor activities and ensure adequate hydration.

The strengthening winds predicted for Friday, whilst providing some relief from the heat, will create elevated fire risk conditions across the island, requiring heightened vigilance in rural and forested areas.

Weekend relief ahead

The weekend promises a return to more typical August conditions, offering respite after the intense heatwave. The possibility of isolated mountain showers early next week suggests a shift towards more unsettled weather patterns.