There will be more rain, snow and thunderstorms today as a winter storm continues to batter Cyprus, with police appealing to drivers to be particularly careful.
A number of roads are closed because of flooding or mudslides and several mountain roads open only to four wheel drive or cars equipped with snow chains.
Two yellow alerts remain in force — the first warning of strong winds is in effect until 1 pm on Tuesday and the second warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms until noon on Tuesday.
The fire services responded to 35 calls, most of them relating to the strong winds, in the past 24 hours. Fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said fire fighters have removed uprooted trees and fallen signs and also responded to flooding problems. A driver who became trapped when trying to cross a large stream near Miliou was rescued yesterday while another rescue operation was carried out in the Kalavassos dam area on Tuesday morning, he added.
In its early morning weather forecast, the Met Office said a low pressure system centered close to Rhodes is moving slowly east and will affect the area until Wednesday when the it will gradually recede.
Tuesday will be mainly cloudy with rain in most areas and isolated thunderstorms and snow at intervals in the Troodos Mountains. Winds will be strong and the seas rough. Temperatures will rise to around 14 C inland, around 17 C on the coast and around 2 C in the mountains. Locally there will be frost in the mountains, at least until midday.
Tonight will be cloudy at intervals with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms while late at night the phenomena will become isolated. Locally in the mountains there will be snow at intervals. Temperatures will fall to 6 C inland, around 8 C on the coast and -1 in the mountains. There will be frost in the  mountains.
Wednesday will be partly cloudy and at intervals cloudy with local rain and isolated thunderstorms as well as snow in the mountains.
Thursday will be partly cloudy with scattered showers or thunderstorms and snow at intervals, locally in the mountains. There may be scattered showers early on Friday morning but the weather will then become gradually mainly fine with locally increased cloud at intervals.
Temperatures will remain at the same levels on Wednesday and Thursday at close to the seasonal average, edging down on Friday to below average for the time of year.
The depth of snow on Troodos Square at the time of issue of the weather bulletin was 64 cm.
Yellow alerts
In a heavy rainfall warning in force until 12 noon the Met Office said that rain and isolated thunderstorms are expected. Locally, mainly over the western and northern and mountainous areas the total rain accumulation is to likely to exceed 50 millimetres in a six hour period and in a thunderstorm the precipitation rate may exceed 35 millimetres per hour
The Met Office has also warned to near gale to gale southerly to southwesterly winds with mean speed of 7 to 8 Beaufort, mainly in the west and south. The warning is in effect until 1 pm.
Be aware of debris being blown around. Localised outdoor activity disruption is possible due to debris, it said. The public should also be aware of the potential for localised flooding of a small number of properties, with local disruption to outdoor activities. Difficult driving conditions due to reduced visibility and aquaplaning.
Roads
There are a number of problems on the roads because of the weather and police are urging all drivers to be particularly careful.
Nicosia district
Roads/bridges closed
• Alexandroupoleos road near Strovolos Municipality
• Red Cross road (behind Presidential Palace)
• Ioanni Kapodistria, Lakatamia
• Dionisi Lvera, Engomi
• Ayios Spyridonas, Deftera
• Phimonoulos street Deftera
• Nicosia street, Potamia
• Gregori Afxentiou, Pera Chorio Nisou
• Leontiou Machera, Dali
• Theodoros Kolokotroni street, Dali
• Kotsiatis -Ayia Varvara Street
In addition”
• there are rock and mudslides on the Xyliatou-Lagoudera road, and one lane is closed
• a tree has fallen on Archbishop Kyprianos road in Klirou.
• the bridge on Eleftheria Square near Nisou Community park is closed because of flooding
Morphou area
The following roads are closed
• Archbishop Makarios, Theiouchon Neros, Ayios Yeorgios and entry to Kakopetria from the main road
Roads open only to four wheel drive vehicles and those equipped with snow chains
• Pedoulas-Prodromos
• Prodromos-Lemythou
• Prodromos-Pinewood
• Kakopetria -Karvounas
• Kakopetria-Spylia
• Kakopetria-Pinewood
Limassol district
Roads open only to four wheel drive vehicles and those equipped with snow chains
• Prodromos-Troodos
• Platres-Troodos
• Karvounas-Troodos
There are rock and mudslides on the Moniatis-Platres road.
Police said the situation on the roads i changing and urged drivers to stay up to date through its website and app.
It also noted that because of the heavy rain, strong winds and fogs in various parts of Cyprus, drivers should drive slowly, keep a safe distance from other vehicles and switch on their lights.
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