The met office has issued a yellow alert for Thursday, April 1, warning of thunderstorms and heavy rain.

In an announcement it said isolated thunderstorms are likely to affect the area. Shower rates may exceed 35 mm per hour, it added.

The warning is in force from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.

“Be aware that thunderstorms may occur. Take extra care in exposed areas, like mountains, forest, and open terrain. Disruption to outdoor activities is possible,” the met office said.

In its weather forecast for the next three days, the met office said that low pressure northwest of Cyprus was beginning to affect the area. The weather is set to improve over the weekend.

Thursday will start with rain and thunderstorms in the west, becoming more generally partly cloudy with local rain and isolated thunderstorms, and snow in the higher Troodos peaks.

Temperatures will rise to 18C inland, around 19C on the coasts and 7C in the mountains. The weather will improve later on Thursday night.

On Friday, there will be intervals of mainly fine weather and intervals of cloud, with isolated showers or thunderstorms on the coast and in the mountains. Later on Friday, local rain or thunderstorms are forecast mainly in the mountains, inland and on the east and southeast coast. Sporadic snow will fall locally on the higher Troodos peaks.

There will be a significant improvement on Friday evening and the weekend will be mainly fine with increased local cloud at intervals.

Temperatures are expected to remain at the same levels on Friday at below average for the time of year but will rise over the weekend to above the seasonal average.

Highest temperatures on Wednesday were Nicosia 23C, Larnaca Airport 21C, Limassol 19C, Paphos Airport 21C, Frenaros 19C, Prodromos 12C and Polis Chrysochous 21C.