Cyprus issues orange weather warning for severe storms and flooding

The Cyprus Meteorological Service has issued an orange weather warning due to a low-pressure system originating from Greece, bringing severe weather conditions to the island. The warning, effective from Wednesday afternoon until 05:00 on Thursday, anticipates intense rainfall, potentially between 55 and 70 mm per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms, hail, and strong wind gusts.

Coastal areas, particularly in the districts of Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca, are expected to be most heavily affected. In Paphos, heavy rains have already caused rivers to overflow, rendering the Peyia-Lara road impassable and prompting police warnings for drivers to avoid flooded routes.

The Department of Water Development has identified 18 potential flood-risk zones linked to riverbeds and flow paths. These risks are categorized into three levels: light (occurring approximately every 20 years), moderate (every 100 years), and very serious (every 500 years). Authorities have released interactive flood hazard maps online to allow citizens to check the risk levels for specific properties.