The Cyprus Meteorological Department issued a yellow warning on Wednesday ahead of Thursday afternoon, with temperatures inland expected to reach 40°C.
The heat is set to break abruptly at the weekend, however, with rain and thunderstorms forecast to sweep the island on Saturday.
A seasonal low is currently dominating the region, though a disturbance approaching from the north is expected to affect Cyprus from Saturday onwards. Thursday will begin with low cloud and patches of mist or fog clearing to leave largely fine conditions, before afternoon cloud brings isolated showers, chiefly over the mountains and parts of the interior.
Winds will start light and variable at force 3, becoming mostly south-westerly to north-westerly and light to moderate, force 3 to 4, strengthening locally in the south during the afternoon to force 4 to 5. Seas will be generally calm to slightly rough. Highs of around 40°C are expected inland, 32°C on the western coast, 34°C elsewhere along the coast, and 30°C over the higher mountains.
Thursday night will remain largely clear, though periods of increased low cloud are expected, particularly near the coast, with patchy mist or fog forming later and in the early hours, mainly in the south-east and interior. Winds will be mostly south-westerly to north-westerly, light to moderate at first before easing to force 3. Overnight lows will fall to around 21°C inland, 23°C on the coast and 20°C in the higher mountains.
Friday is expected to stay largely fine, though increased cloud over the mountains after midday could bring isolated showers. Conditions will turn more widely cloudy on Saturday, with local rain and isolated thunderstorms forecast — some potentially intense or prolonged. Sunday should begin mostly clear, before afternoon cloud brings further isolated showers, chiefly over the mountains, interior and southern areas.
Temperatures will show little change on Friday, remaining above seasonal norms, before falling noticeably on Saturday to below the average for the time of year. A slight rise is expected on Sunday.
