The island of Cyprus is experiencing an unusually warm and dry November. This weather is giving residents a clear warning about the future effects of climate change. It is also making a serious water shortage even worse. Scientists report that the island is on a path of long-term warming and drying. This change is putting great pressure on the environment and the country's water supplies.
Research from the Cyprus Institute shows that temperatures in the Mediterranean region are rising very quickly. Since 1981, the increase has been between 0.4 and 0.6 degrees Celsius every ten years. This warming is changing normal seasonal patterns. For example, average temperatures in months like March and November are now about two degrees higher than they were at the end of the last century. A climate professor, Dr. Panos Hadjinicolaou, said this year's November feels more like September. He explained that this is a taste of conditions they expected only later this century.
At the same time, rainfall patterns are changing in a worrying way. The total amount of rain Cyprus receives each year has dropped significantly since the mid-1900s. This means the island loses billions of tonnes of potential water annually. Also, the type of rain has changed. Experts note there are fewer gentle, widespread showers. Instead, the island now experiences intense, localized storms that dump huge amounts of water in a short time. This leads to destructive floods, but the water does not soak into the ground to refill underground supplies.
As a result, Cyprus is in a water crisis. Reservoir levels are dangerously low, at only 9.5% of their total capacity. A senior water official has warned that without heavy rain, the country's water reserves could run out by 2026. To cope, Cyprus now depends on desalination plants for about 70% of its urban water. However, this process is expensive and uses a lot of energy, while water demand keeps growing.
Future climate models predict even greater challenges. By mid-century, Cyprus's climate could become similar to the dry climate of Cairo, with rainfall reduced by up to 20%. Heatwaves will likely become more common and last longer, increasing the need for cooling. These changes mean the island's entire natural balance is shifting, requiring urgent action to adapt and reduce further climate change.