Thunderstorms and heavy rain hit Cyprus on Thursday, bringing a metal pergola down from a block of flats onto parked cars in Paphos, as police warned drivers of poor visibility and slippery roads.
A yellow warning for severe weather is in force until 5pm. Isolated heavy thunderstorms are expected to hit the western half of the island first and then gradually spread to other areas, with rainfall of 35 to 55 millimetres an hour. Hail cannot be ruled out, and winds may change direction and strengthen briefly during storms, with gusts reaching seven to eight Beaufort.
The bad weather, which arrived from the Aegean, brought heavy rain and storms first to Paphos, moving east, according to images shared by members of the public. Rain is also torrential in Larnaca, and water collected in streets and yards.
(Video from Pitsilia mountain area)
The pergola fell onto Griva Digeni Avenue in Paphos, crushing one car and damaging a second. It reportedly gave way in the strong winds. Nobody was hurt, but both cars were extensively damaged. Police and Paphos municipality officials were at the scene recording the damage.
(Video from Apliki Oreinis)
Police said heavy rain from around 11.15am was affecting traffic across the Paphos district road network. Visibility was limited, and water flowing across some roads had made them slippery.
(Video from Lagoudera)
They had earlier warned of limited visibility from thick fog on mountain roads in Limassol district, particularly around Agros, Chandria and Kyperounta, and urged drivers and others using the roads to take particular care.
Skies will be mostly cloudy for the rest of the day, with local rain and isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures will reach around 23C inland and on the coast and 12C in the higher mountains.
(Video from Polemidia)
(Facebook videos from Weather Enthusiasts of Cyprus group)
