The amount of rain which has fallen in November so far already exceeds 117 per cent of the average rainfall for the entire month, the met office revealed on Monday.

An average of 62.3 millimetres of rain has fallen across the Republic since the start of the month, compared to the normal average of 53.3mm for the whole month, while a total of 27.9mm have fallen in the last few days.

In those three days, a total of 57.7mm of rain fell in the Paphos district village of Pano Panayia, making it the wettest place on the island this weekend. At the other end of the scale, Athienou saw the least rainfall of anywhere in Cyprus over the weekend.

Parts of the north saw even more intense rainfall, with 72mm of rain falling on Sunday in the Kyrenia district village of Ayia Eirini. A total of 42mm fell at Ercan (Tymbou) airport and 33mm fell in Rizokarpaso on the same day, while 43mm had fallen in Famagusta on Saturday.

Despite the increased rainfall since the start of the month, Cyprus’ reservoirs remain just a quarter full, according to data released by the water development department last week.

In total, there are 73.6 million cubic metres of water in Cyprus’ reservoirs at present – 25.3 per cent of total capacity – which is just over half the figure recorded this time last year, when there were 137 million cubic metres of water in the reservoirs, meaning they were 47.1 per cent full at the time.

In particular, the Vyzakia reservoir in the Nicosia district has just 75,000 cubic metres of water in it and is as such just 4.4 per cent full. This time a year ago, it held ten times more water.

l for the rational management of the available quantities of water,” she said.