Seasonal storms stronger than usual

THE STORMS that have caused flash floods mainly inland and in the mountains will continue today and may last until tomorrow.
From May 1 until 9am yesterday the total amount of rainfall was calculated at 15.1mm, which is 77 per cent normal for this period of the year, according to the meteorological services.
“Because we had experienced high temperatures during the last couple of weeks, energy was built-up in the atmosphere and low pressure was created. This low pressure system is what caused these tropical storms during the last week in Cyprus,” meteorological officer Marios Theofilou said. “These storms begin suddenly around lunch time and end suddenly some hours later.”
Theofilou commented that this type of weather is a common phenomenon in early summer but it has lasted for more days than usual.
Today’s temperatures will be 23C inland, 22 to 23C along the coast and 13C over higher ground. Temperatures will begin to rise on Thursday.
Deputy fire chief, Marcos Trangolas, said yesterday that the fire service had responded to 180 calls over the weekend in the capital due to the havoc caused by the heavy rain.