The Meteorology Department has warned that the country is heading into yet another dry year, with uneven December rainfall, rising temperatures and increasing climate-related risks such as flash floods, dust intrusions and heatwaves.
Meteorology Director Sinan Güneş said the effects of climate change are becoming more visible, noting that the country will experience more short, intense storms and more frequent urban flooding in the coming years.
According to Güneş, December and January rainfall is expected to remain at or below normal levels in West Mesarya, while slightly above-average precipitation may occur in the Karpaz region, the North Coast and the Beşparmak mountains. However, he stressed that overall annual rainfall remains far below normal, meaning 2025 will still be classified as a dry year.
Forecasts indicate that January temperatures will be 1–2°C above average, with daily maximums rising 3–5°C above seasonal norms.
Güneş explained that although long-term rainfall totals have not collapsed, the pattern of rainfall has changed dramatically. “Storms that once lasted weeks now occur within hours,” he said, adding that while these sudden downpours trigger flooding, they do not replenish underground water reserves or support agriculture and livestock.
He also warned that Cyprus is becoming increasingly exposed to dust transported from Africa and the Middle East due to expanding desertification, and that more frequent and intense dust events are expected.
Rainfall remained below normal in every month from January to October, with January and October recorded as “significantly below” long-term averages, he added.
Güneş further highlighted delays in activating the country’s meteorology radar system, which is vital for early warning of severe weather.
He stressed that climate adaptation must become a state priority. “All institutions must act together as extreme phenomena—drought, heatwaves, dust transport and tornado-like systems—intensify,” he said.
