Filenews 12 January 2022
Yellow warning for prolonged rain and locally strong thunderstorms today, issued yesterday by the Department of Meteorology.
The warning, which runs from 0600 to 2200 on Wednesday, states that "prolonged rains and locally strong thunderstorms are expected to affect the region intermittently."
"The total rainfall is likely locally to exceed 55 millimetres in 24 hours," he added.
The weather forecast
The barometric low of Diomedes, centred on Crete, is moving slowly eastwards and will affect the area until Thursday night.
Today the weather will be mostly cloudy and temporarily partially cloudy, with local rains intermittently, gradually in most areas, and isolated thunderstorms. On the highest peaks of Troodos or locally in the higher mountains it will snow intermittently. Locally the phenomena are likely to be prolonged or even intense. The sparse dust observed will gradually subside. The temperature will rise to around 17 degrees in the interior, around 19 degrees on the coast and around 7 degrees in the higher mountains.
Tonight the weather will be partly cloudy and temporarily cloudy, while local rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected, mainly in the western half of the island. Locally, in the higher mountains, snowfall is expected. The temperature will drop to around 6 degrees in the interior, around 10 degrees on the coast and around zero in the higher mountains, where frost will form.
On Thursday the weather will be partly cloudy and temporarily cloudy, with local rains intermittently, gradually in most areas, and isolated thunderstorms. On the highest peaks of Troodos or locally in the higher mountains it will snow intermittently. Locally the phenomena are likely to be prolonged or even intense. In the evening, a gradual noticeable improvement in the weather is expected.
On Friday the weather will be mostly clear, with locally elevated overcast intermittently. In the afternoon, isolated light rains are likely to occur in areas south of the Troodos mountain range or even slightly transient snowfall, locally in the higher mountains. On Saturday the weather will be mostly clear, with locally elevated overcast intermittently.
The temperature is expected to gradually drop by Friday, to be slightly below the average climatic values, while on Saturday it will rise slightly.
The height of the snow in Troodos Square, at the time of issue of the bulletin, was 12 cm.
DUST IN THE ATMOSPHERE
High concentrations of dust are observed today, January 12, 2022, in the atmosphere according to the measurements of the ground stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network of the Department of Labour Inspection.
Because the dust contains small-sized inhalable particles, which may have a negative effect on human health, the public and especially vulnerable population groups (children, the elderly and patients) are encouraged to avoid circulating in open spaces until the phenomenon is over, the Department said in a statement.
Employers must take appropriate measures (organizational or even technical), after assessing the risks to their employees who are in open spaces and employees in such areas are advised to use appropriate means of personal protection.
For information, the last hourly dust concentration values measured at 8:00 a.m. in the following areas were:
Nicosia: 70.3 μg/m3
Limassol: - μg/m3
Larnaca: 54.3 μg/m3
Paralimni: 63.4 μg/m3
Paphos: 165.2 μg/m3
Zygi: 53.5 μg/m3
Agia Marina Xyliatou: 31.7 μg/m3
It should be noted that "dust" means inhalable particulate matter in the atmosphere with a diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10). According to the relevant legislation, the limit value refers to the daily average and must not exceed the value of 50 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter).
More information and continuous, immediate information on the results of the hourly measurements can be found on the website www.airquality.gov.cy and the "Air Quality Cyprus" application, which can be installed free of charge on a mobile phone.
