Temperatures to drop below 40C over the weekend  

After a week of sweltering heat that has seen the thermometer hit 44C and prompted a flurry of extreme hot weather warnings from the met office, temperatures will drop below 40C on Saturday with a chance of showers inland and in the mountains.

But the risk of fires remains extremely high. The forestry department has issued a new red alert while the fire service on Friday again appealed to the public to be particularly careful as the slightest spark could lead to a devastating fire.

According to the met office, the hot air mass which has been affecting our area is gradually leaving as from Saturday. The day will start off mainly fine, but at midday and in the afternoon, there will be increased local cloud inland and in the mountains that are expected to lead to isolated showers or thunderstorms.

Temperatures will rise to around 39C inland, around 33C on the west coast, around 35C on the remaining coasts and around 31C in the higher mountains.

Sunday will be mainly fine with increased local cloud at intervals, but from midday and in the afternoon, the met office is forecasting local showers or thunderstorms, mainly in the mountains and inland, with a chance of hail.

There will be local patchy fog or low cloud at night and early in the morning.

Monday and Tuesday will be mainly fine, with increased cloud at midday and in the afternoon, mainly in the mountains and inland.

Temperatures will edge down on Sunday, mainly in the mountains and inland, to close to the seasonal average, rising a little by Tuesday to a little above the seasonal average.

The highest temperatures at 3.00 pm on Friday were Nicosia 42C, Larnaca Airport 39C, Limassol 34C, Paphos Airport 34C, Frenaros 37C, Prodromos 34C and Polis Chrysochous 39C. Humidity ranged from 21 per cent in Nicosia to 69 per cent in Limassol.