Cyprus heat wave soars to 46 degrees

Temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius on Sunday, defying Met Office projections of 42 degrees in the capital Nicosia, forcing thousands of people to seek shelter on the beaches and in the mountains, while many others chose to stay home with their air conditioners blasting throughout the day.
The heat wave conditions are expected to continue until mid-week, accompanied by high levels of humidity, particularly in the south-eastern coastal region.
Senior Met officer Cleanthis Nicolaides told CyBC that some relief in the form of cooler breezes could be found on the east and west of the island in the coastal regions but that the heat wave was not expected to let up until Monday, after which the island will see a gradual drop in temperatures.
Nicolaides noted however, that he did not expect temperatures to drop below 37 degrees Celsius before Wednesday, at least not inland, adding that this was normal for this time of year.
Last week, humidity levels reached as high as 98% in Larnaca and 87% in Nicosia.