Police warn drivers of heavy rain and road closures (updated)

Heavy rains battered the island on Saturday with police warning drivers to be careful citing limited visibility on several roads.

Adverse weather conditions affected mainly the Larnaca and Famagusta districts where roads have flooded with water damaging houses and businesses.

Meanwhile snow in Troodos square reached 17cm.

This weather will continue until Tuesday, meteorological officer Nicolina Koutsofti told CNA, with a gradual rise in temperature expected as of mid week.

Police said that in the Famagusta district, Protaras-Cape Greco avenue from Kapparis until the Pernera area and Ayios Panteleimonas road until Kammitsi traffic lights are closed.

There are also some roads that have been deemed dangerous in the district. These are Kapparis, 1 Apriliou and Griva Digeni avenues, as well as Ayia Napa-Ayia Thekla road and Cape Greco-Ayia Napa.

In the mountainous area of Larnaca in the morning there was dense fog and rain, with police urging drivers to be particularly careful due to limited visibility on the roads Skarinou-Lefkara, Lefkara-Vavatsinia, Vavatsiania-Ayioi Vavatsinias and Ayioi Vavatsianias-Odou.

Due to flooded roads in the Famagusta district, Paralimni and Derynia areas, the fire service said they responded to dozens of calls for assistance since 4.40am on Saturday. The incidents, the service said, involve flooded roads, opening of rainwater drains, pumping water from flooded premises and towing vehicles.

Temperature during the day was forecast to reach around 14C inland, 16C on the southern and eastern coasts, 17C on the western and northern coasts and around 6C in the higher mountains.

At night, the temperature will drop to around 7C inland, 11C on the coast and 1C in the higher mountains.

Throughout the day, there will snowfall in the mountains according to the met service.

Snow is also expected to fall on Sunday and Monday in the mountains. In other areas, the weather will be partly cloudy with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms.