This week, Cyprus is preparing for very different types of weather. Forecasters say light rain will soon be followed by heavy thunderstorms and much cooler temperatures. However, scientists explain that these quick changes are just part of a much bigger problem. The island is getting hotter at a worrying speed, its normal climate is changing, and its important forests are starting to die. New information shows that Cyprus is experiencing the effects of climate change much earlier than expected.
Experts say the Mediterranean island's temperature is rising by 0.4 to 0.6 degrees Celsius every ten years. This trend is clear in recent records. This year, almost seventy percent of days have been warmer than usual for the time of year. Autumn shows this change especially well. Dr. Panos Hadjinicolaou, a climate professor, says recent Novembers give an uncomfortable look at the future. "This November, we are experiencing weather we thought would only happen towards the end of this century," he said. "It feels like September."
The problem is not only about heat. There is also much less rain, which is changing the island's water systems. Since the mid-1900s, the average yearly rainfall has dropped by about 83 millimetres. This means the island loses nearly one billion tonnes of water each year. The rain has also changed its pattern. Instead of soft, widespread rain, there are now fewer but very heavy and local storms. These often cause damage and do not fill water supplies effectively. Scientists predict rainfall could drop another twenty percent by 2050, possibly giving Cyprus a climate similar to Cairo.
This long dry period is now causing an ecological crisis in the forests. The Department of Forests reports that native trees are suffering from serious drought. In some areas, like Cedar Valley, up to forty percent of trees show signs of drying out. A forestry spokesperson, Glafkos Kyriakou, called it "the beginning of a disaster." The department has started emergency plans. These include mapping the damage, watering important trees with recycled water, and removing dead trees to reduce fire risk.
The long-term effects are serious. The traditional autumn season is getting shorter, while summer gets longer. This will increase the need for air conditioning and make water shortages worse. Forestry teams are changing their tree-planting programs, now choosing native species that can survive with less water. As Cyprus deals with this week's storms, the larger climate crisis continues, requiring urgent and long-term action to protect the island's nature and resources.