The Mediterranean island of Cyprus experienced very disruptive weather this past weekend. A strong storm, named ADEL, moved across the area. The Cyprus Meteorology Department issued a yellow weather warning. It told people to expect serious thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds. Although the center of the storm has now moved away, its effects are still being felt in some parts of the island. The weather is expected to become completely calm again by the middle of the week.
Weather experts explained that the extreme conditions began with the ADEL weather system over the northern Aegean Sea. This system caused a mix of bad weather to reach Cyprus starting on Saturday. All of Cyprus was affected, but the western and northern coasts, as well as the Troodos mountains, faced the worst conditions first.
At the storm's peak, from Saturday night through Sunday afternoon, the situation became much worse. There were very heavy, sudden rains. The strongest storms could produce over 50 millimeters of rain in one hour, which can cause dangerous flash floods. Hail also fell during these storms, which can damage cars, buildings, and farms. At the same time, winds became quite strong, making the sea, especially in the west and north, very rough and unsafe for boats. There was also a lot of dust in the air at times, which made it harder to see and reduced air quality.
Temperatures changed dramatically, showing how unstable the weather was. At night, it became quite cold, dropping to around 12 degrees Celsius inland. In the Troodos mountains, temperatures fell to near 7 degrees, with even a chance of sleet. However, during the day, temperatures in most lowland areas reached a milder 20 to 22 degrees, while staying around a cold 10 degrees in the mountains.
Storm ADEL's main effect was to create dangerous conditions that interrupted normal life and required people to be very careful. The official warnings helped prepare everyone for the risks of flooding, hail, and wind. While the most intense part of the storm is over, its departure has been slow. Monday and Tuesday have remained unsettled, with some showers and storms, especially in the north and mountains, as a final reminder of ADEL.
The forecast now suggests a steady improvement. The unstable weather should slowly disappear, leading to more predictable and calm conditions by Wednesday. This storm is a strong reminder of how quickly and powerfully the weather can change in this region, even as Cyprus cleans up and dries out after the storm's visit.