Christmas Day brought big weather changes to Cyprus. Heavy rain and thunderstorms caused flash floods in many areas. Some places were sunny and mild. However, large parts of Larnaca and Famagusta were underwater. This sudden rain stopped Christmas morning fun.
The Famagusta Fire Station received eight calls. Heavy rain turned roads into rivers. Drains could not handle the water. Many roads were covered. Cars got stuck and needed rescue. Firefighters also pumped water from houses. They helped people who were affected.
Fire service spokesperson Andreas Kettis said most calls were from Larnaca and Famagusta. This shows the bad weather was strong in these places. Towns like Paralimni and Ayia Napa flooded quickly. This surprised many people. It showed how infrastructure can be weak in bad weather. It also changed holiday plans.
This weather change is because of a shift in the atmosphere. A strong high-pressure system is getting weaker. A new weather front is moving in. This means more unstable weather. The Cyprus Meteorological Department expects big changes. The strong, local rain happened because of this changing weather.
In other parts of Cyprus, like Nicosia, the weather was different. The sky was clear and the temperature was 19°C. This shows how different the weather can be on the island. However, this good weather will not last long.
More bad weather is coming. Temperatures will drop overnight. It will be about 10°C inland. It will be 12°C by the coast. The highest mountains may have temperatures as low as 4°C. Winds will also change. Tomorrow, especially after noon, expect more unsettled weather. There might be storms and hail. Snow or sleet could fall on the highest mountains. This will end the mild weather in those areas. Cyprus is getting ready for a winter end to the holidays.