Hail, thunderstorm yellow alert

The Met Office issued a yellow warning on Wednesday for heavy rain as a low-pressure system moves across the island, with the last snow falling on higher ground.

A warning for heavy thunderstorms came into effect from noon on Wednesday until late evening (6 pm).

Yellow warnings are issued for conditions that do not pose an immediate threat to the general population but only to those exposed to the prevailing weather.

According to the Department of Meteorology, the intensity of the rain is expected to exceed 35 to 55 millimetres per hour, with a strong possibility of hail.

The Met Office said that the low-pressure weather system would mainly affect the island’s eastern half.

On Wednesday, locally increased clouds are expected to give isolated storms, mainly on the western coasts in Limassol and Paphos.

On the highest peaks of Troodos, snow and hailstorms are expected.

Winds will be mainly southwest to northwest, initially weak to moderate, 3 to 4 Beaufort and later locally up to strong, 5 Beaufort. The sea will be rough.

Maximum temperature will rise to around 20 degrees Celsius inland and on the coasts and around 10°C in the higher mountains.

Night temperatures are expected to drop to 10°C inland and on the coasts and 4°C on the highest mountains.

The weather will remain unsettled on Thursday, with temperatures staying at around 20°C inland and on the coasts, some 5 degrees lower than the seasonal average.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also expected.

Temperatures will rise from Good Friday, hitting a maximum 22°C, to reach 26°C on Easter Sunday.