Nicosia: The heatwave affecting Western and Central Europe is helping keep temperatures in Cyprus close to normal for the season, while only a temporary rise is expected on Sunday and Monday, 'but nothing extreme,' Meteorological Service Officer Andreas Chrysanthou told CNA on Wednesday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Chrysanthou said Western Europe is experiencing very high temperatures, mainly in Spain and France, while temperatures are also expected to be well above normal in areas such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and southern England. He explained that the heat surge is moving in from the south, with warm air masses mainly from Africa being trapped near the surface due to prolonged high pressure over Western Europe.
The Meteorological Service official noted that the very high temperatures in Western and Central Europe are expected to last at least until Saturday, while the pattern appears likely to start weakening from the weekend onwards. As regards Cyprus, he said the phenomenon is not affecting the island to the same extent. On the contrary, he added, the situation in Western Europe is favoring the development of a trough of low pressure from the north over Cyprus, bringing cooler air masses to the island.
Chrysanthou stated, 'We will have a temporary rise lasting one to two days, but nothing extreme in our area for the time being,' adding that Cyprus remains under conditions close to normal levels. He also mentioned that the trough of low pressure may bring rain to Cyprus' mountainous areas from Friday to Sunday.
When asked about the possibility of thunderstorms, Chrysanthou indicated that the combination of low pressure, high temperatures, and increased humidity can create atmospheric instability and favor summer showers or thunderstorms. He clarified that the current heatwave is not linked to El Nino, explaining that the phenomenon currently recorded in Europe is linked to the pressure pattern over the Atlantic Ocean, while the effects of El Nino on Europe may appear over time.
Chrysanthou concluded by noting that similar episodes may recur during the summer, recalling that a heat dome phenomenon was recorded in Western and Central Europe in August 2025.