A yellow weather warning for isolated thunderstorms has been issued for Cyprus, with conditions expected to deteriorate on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the met office on Friday, the warning will be in force from 6.00am to 18.00pm, with forecasters stating that isolated strong storms are expected to affect the island initially in Paphos before spreading in land.

The alert comes as elevated concentrations of dust from the Sahara continue to affect Cyprus.

According to the Met Office, the dust episode began Friday evening and is expected to ease by early Saturday morning, although particles will remain present in the air until Sunday.

Weather conditions overnight are forecast to be mainly cloudy, with isolated rain developing later in Paphos and Kyrenia.

Localised fog is expected to form in the early hours, particularly in Nicosia and Famagusta.

Temperatures are projected to fall to around 14 degrees Celsius in Nicosia, 16 degrees in Limassol and Larnaca and close to 8 degrees in Troodos.

On Saturday, cloud cover will persist, bringing localised rain and thunderstorms, again beginning in Paphos before extending across the island.

Temperatures are forecast to reach approximately 21 degrees in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca and around 12 degrees in Troodos.

Conditions are expected to remain unsettled into Saturday night, with increased cloud bringing isolated rain, mainly in Paphos and Kyrenia.

Cloudy conditions will continue on Sunday, with localised showers and thunderstorms developing later in the day, particularly over Troodos and Famagusta.

The met office said temperatures will remain slightly below seasonal averages through to Tuesday, with further isolated rain or storms possible on Monday, mainly in Troodos, before clearer conditions begin to develop.