Cyprus roasts in heat wave

YESTERDAY was the hottest day of the year so far, with inland temperatures “exceeding 36 degrees Celsius,” according to the Meteorological Service.

Weather chief Kyriacos Theofilou yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that, “temperatures are above average for the time of year, which are normally not more than 31 degrees.”

He added that the heat wave has been caused by winds “coming from the north-east.

High pressure in the upper atmosphere creates subsidence which heats the air mass.”
Temperatures were lower along the coasts yesterday with 30 degrees recorded in the south and 26 in the west and also in mountain areas.

From today, the forecast is for a gradual reduction in temperatures, “with levels back to the normal of 31 by Sunday. There will also be some afternoon clouds over the weekend,” said Theofilou.

There is no forecast for rain.

Doctors have in previous years warned people to take precautionary measures against the extreme heat.

If you are going to exercise, do so before 10am or after 7pm. It is important to drink plenty of water, even when you do not feel thirsty, in order to avoid dehydration, which is the main cause of heat exhaustion.

Remember to wear loose fitting clothing and light colours, as dark colours absorb heat. Wear high factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on exposed areas of skin and wear a hat when outside.

Avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol as they only make your thirstier. Eat less food.
Do not stay in the sun for longer than one hour and especially not between midday and 4pm.

Every year, people from Nicosia and the surrounding areas escape to coastal and mountain areas to leave behind the stifling heat and burning sun.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.