Respite on the way, temperatures to drop from Friday night

After a protracted heat wave, there is some respite on the way with temperatures inland set to drop by 3C to 4C starting from tonight, the met office said in its Friday afternoon forecast.

Temperatures, which had stubbornly hovered above 40C the past few days, spiked at 43C inland on Friday.

A hot air mass which has been affecting the region is shifting, but light dust may be observed in the atmosphere which will gradually clear by tomorrow.

Friday night will be mainly fine, with local light fog or low cloud at dawn. Temperatures tonight will fall to 24C inland and on the north and east coasts, around 22C on the remaining coasts and 19C in the higher mountains.

Saturday will be mainly fine, however from midday on there will be increased local cloud. Southwest and northwest winds will pick up strength from midday on with moderate or strong winds expected, and locally on the south coast very strong at 5 or 6 Beaufort.

Temperatures will rise to 39C inland, around 36C on the north coast, 33C on the south and east coasts and 30C on the west coast and higher mountains.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be mainly fine with increased local cloud after midday which on Sunday may lead to isolated showers, mainly inland and in the mountains.

Temperatures over the next three days are expected to remain at the same levels, slightly above the seasonal average.

The highest temperatures at 3.00 pm on Friday were Nicosia 43C, Larnaca Airport 33C, Limassol 34C, Paphos Airport 33C, Frenaros 33C, Prodromos 35C and Polis Chysochous 35C. Humidity ranged from 64 per cent in Polis to 22 per cent in Prodromos.