Cyprus is characterized by one of the hottest and dry climate in the Mediterranean, and this is largely due to its position on the map and natural features. The island is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, not far from the Middle Eastern deserts. Therefore, the heat here is felt much stronger than, for example, in Greece or Italy.
The climate of Cyprus is a subtropical Mediterranean, which means a soft and short winter, a long and very hot spring and summer, as well as a long sunny autumn. The eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea warms up faster and stronger than the western, and therefore Cyprus receives huge portions of solar heat almost all year round. Hot air masses from Syria and the Arabian Peninsula often come from the south and east, increasing heat. The sea around the island acts as a natural regulator, smoothing temperature changes, but in the peak summer months it does not have time to cool and, on the contrary, enhances the feeling of heat, preserving the air warm and wet even at night.
In winter, the temperature rarely drops below ten degrees even on the coast, and snow can only be seen in the mountains of Troodos, where the air is noticeably cooler and more precipitation falls. However, the main impression of the climate of the island is, of course, the summer. Already in May, heat is installed, which can continue without a break until the end of October. Daytime temperatures often reach forty degrees, especially in the central regions of the island, for example, in Nicosia, where a sea breeze does not fly. The humidity is relatively low, which allows you to endure the heat a little easier.
Another feature of the Cyprus climate is the abundance of sunny days. The island receives the sun for about 340 days a year, even in winter it rains infrequently. Precipitation falls mainly from December to February, but even then they are quite short -term. Such a dry climate makes agriculture greatly dependent on irrigation and accumulation of rainwater in reservoirs. It is the lack of moisture and high evaporation that explains that a significant part of the plain areas looks dry and scorched in the summer, unlike the green mountain slopes.
Inside the island there is a noticeable contrast. In the mountains of Troodos, the climate is softer, there you can hide from the heat in the summer, and skiing in winter. In these areas there are more forests and vegetation due to a larger amount of precipitation. On the coast, the climate is especially favorable for a beach holiday: sea water remains warm even in late autumn, and sunny weather attracts a stable stream of tourists.
Thus, the heat in Cyprus is explained by a combination of subtropical position, proximity to deserted regions, a long sunny season and a limited amount of precipitation. This is the climate of the bright sun and dry winds, which makes the island simultaneously paradise for tourists and a difficult place for life without modern amenities like air conditioners and desalination systems. The uniqueness of the Cyprus climate lies in its constancy: it is warm almost all year round, and the summer is so long that it seems eternal.
