December rainfall 170 per cent above average

Rainfall in December has by far exceeded the average precipitation for the month, head of the meteorological department Kleanthis Nicolaides said on Friday.

According to Nicolaides rainfall precipitation may have exceeded by 170 to 180 per cent of the average rainfall for December.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Nicolaides said the orange weather warning issued by the met office will be in effect until 4pm Friday.

“The rains are expected to continue, in some areas they will be prolonged. In Troodos it did not stop raining all day and night,” he added.

Nicolaides said that several areas in Cyprus have reached the normal rainfall of December in just 24 hours.

The weather from Friday afternoon, however, is expected to improve, he said.

Between Monday and Wednesday next week the weather is to be mild with temperatures at seasonal levels.