Filenews 10 March 2025 - by Despina Psillou
The drought data in Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean are disheartening, with the Meteorological Service sending out a distress signal. As the senior meteorological officer, Michalis Mouskos, underlined to Filenews, rainfall rates are very bad, both in the previous two months and in the first ten days of March, while drought is forecast until the 21st of the month.
Specifically, Mr. Mouskos told us that for this month, normal rainfall amounts to 61.9 mm on average. "For the first ten days of March, we record just 0.5mm. We are at 1%," he underlined, adding that previous records were equally dramatic.
"In January, which is considered one of the strongest months in terms of rain, we recorded just 17.2mm, or 17%. Similarly, in February we recorded 33.6mm, which is 41% of normal."
Mouskos added that the forecasts are dry and at the same time it seems that the mercury by the weekend will shoot up to 11 degrees above normal levels. "Tomorrow we expect to catch 25 degrees at home, up to 28 degrees on Friday and even 30 degrees at the weekend. We will catch May temperatures, if you consider that the normal values for the season are 18 degrees for the interior."
According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Climate Watch Advisory Group, the rainfall forecast for the period from March 10 to March 21, 2025, is expected to be particularly low compared to normal for the season, resulting in a particularly dry period over the next 12 days compared to normal levels of the season, for the Eastern Mediterranean region and Cyprus.
The climate simulation carried out on a weekly basis by the German Meteorological Service (DWD), in cooperation with the French and Russian Meteorological Service for Europe, confirms the trend towards overall reduced weekly rainfall and consequent drought. The absolute weekly rainfall totals in the areas expected to be affected, including Cyprus, will be mostly less than 10mm and local zero.
Due to the relatively dry conditions of the previous weeks, soil moisture and river levels are already quite low, winter cereals may be less developed, and natural water production will be significantly reduced.
It should be noted that the Bulletin of the medium-term forecast with the forecasted rainfall characteristics and drought conditions is closely monitored.
