The met office on Thursday issued a yellow alert, warning of extreme high temperatures on Friday.

The alert is in force from 1pm to 5pm when maximum temperatures inland are expected to be around 40C.

In its weather forecast, the met office said that the weather on Friday will be mainly fine although there will be increased cloud in the mountains later in the day. Winds will start off weak to moderate, becoming locally strong.

Temperatures will rise to 40C inland, around 34C on the south, east and north coasts, around 31C on the west coast and 30C in the higher mountains.

On Friday evening, the weather will be mainly fine but light fog and low cloud is expected at dawn, mainly on the coast.

The weekend will be mainly fine, but at midday and in the afternoon there will be increased local cloud that may lead to isolated showers in the mountains. Monday will be mainly fine.

Temperatures will remain at the same levels, slightly above the seasonal average.

The highest temperatures at 3pm on Thursday were Nicosia 40C, Larnaca Airport 34C, Limassol 33C, Paphos Airport 31C, Frenaros 34C, Prodromos 30C and Polis Chrysochous 35C. Humidity ranged from 69 per cent at Paphos Airport to 25 per cent in Nicosia.