BRACE yourself for the warm weather because the national weather service forecasts that the first real blast of summer heat will sear the island until at least the end of the week.
Temperatures today will climb to 39 degrees inland and to the mid-thirties on the coast and get even hotter later in the week, predicts Weather Service director Kyriacos Theophilou.
The first signs of the impending heat wave appeared yesterday, when the mercury topped 38 in Nicosia yesterday and pushed its way past 30 in most coastal areas, except for Paphos where highs remained in the upper twenties.
“The following days – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – the maximum temperature will be between 39 and 40 plus, which is really a heat wave,” says the weather service director.
In the coastal areas, temperatures will remain four to five degrees lower and as much as six to seven lower in Paphos.
“I wouldn’t like to go further than Friday. This is normally the period to which we can extend our forecast,” said Theophilou.
Other factors, such as wind speed and moisture, will also affect how we experience the warmer-than-normal temperatures.
“Quite surely, if high humidity prevails, which is something normal for the coastal areas, this will for sure create more discomfort for people,” says Theophilou.
“Normally, from what we have in the previous days, at least for Nicosia, the values are rather low,” he reports, but warns that humidity tends to be much higher on the coast.
Health Department warnings:
Avoid sunbathing and in general minimise your exposure to sun.
Avoid heavy physical exercise and unnecessary trips in the daytime.
If it is necessary to go out in the sun, wear a hat with a 360-degree brim. Clothing should be lightweight, light coloured and loose-fitting.
Drink 9-10 glasses of water a day.
Avoid alcoholic drinks, heavy food, chocolate and spices.
Opt for light food, small meals, vegetables and juices.
Use air conditioning or fans to cool indoor areas.
Take utmost care that the elderly and children, who are most sensitive to high temperatures, strictly abide by these measures.
The same precautions apply to people with heart, diabetes, kidney or lung problems.
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