CYPRUS may be experiencing unusually hot weather for this time of the year but it hasn’t stopped some Nicosia shops from taking out their Christmas decorations.
With the barometer sitting at 34 degree, six degrees above the October average, it’s only ten weeks to Christmas Day.
According to Cyprus’ Meteorological Service, the unusually high temperatures and caused by two coinciding weather systems, and will continue over the weekend.
Kleanthis Nicolaides, a Meteorological Officer with the service, said yesterday: “The high temperatures are caused by two things, firstly low pressure in the Balkans and high pressure in Cyprus means we experience warm easterly and south easterly winds. Secondly we are noticing subsidence of the lower part of the atmosphere, which is associated with warm air.”
Asked if this had anything to do with climate change, Nicolaides explained: “Some might claim that this is the result of climate change, but my feeling is that it is synoptic, which means it is caused by simultaneous events. This is not a frequent phenomenon, but it has happened on a few occasions before.”
The temperature has some way to go before it beats any records, however. The highest October temperature recorded was over 38 degrees, while the coldest it has been was 5.4 degrees.
The extreme weather in recent weeks has coincided with reports of increased mosquitoes in Nicosia. Asked if the two could be linked, Chief Health Inspector Evangelos Evangelou said yesterday “We have not recorded above average mosquito numbers, but if we have had more [in recent weeks], it could be for two reasons. Firstly, they need stagnant water to breed. It has been very dry from July to September. The population normally increases in autumn after the first rains. The recent spate is likely to be the result of heavy rains in September. Secondly, we are now using environmentally friendly pesticides to control mosquito numbers.”
Under the new eco-friendly programme, the Health Ministry sprays springs and lakes every two weeks to kill off mosquito numbers. “It is very important for us to do this, as we have two species of mosquito in Cyprus, one of which carries malaria. Fortunately we have a small number of Malaria carriers here.”
“We do not spray in the cities and towns, however, as the municipalities manage their own urban areas.” Evangelou added.
The warm weather is set to continue over the next few days. Nicolaides forecast that “From Saturday through until Monday, the weather will be mostly fine, with a few clouds appearing and possible isolated shower on Monday.”
