**Civil Defence Defends CY-Alert System Amid Mixed Weather Reports**
On Friday, the Civil Defence of Cyprus issued a clarification regarding its decision to send out a preventive CY-Alert message in response to a yellow weather warning, which resulted in notifications being received in areas that reported no rainfall. The message aimed to inform the public about potential severe weather conditions, even if some regions did not experience immediate precipitation.
Civil Defence spokesman Panayiotis Liasides explained that the alert fell under the system's fourth category, classified as a “public safety message.” This categorization is distinct from emergency alerts that are typically accompanied by a siren. Liasides emphasized that the alert was not an emergency notification, but rather a precautionary measure based on consultations with the meteorological office.
The decision to send the alert was influenced by severe weather conditions already observed in the Akamas and Polis Chrysochous areas. Liasides noted that forecasts indicated the adverse weather would likely spread eastward from Paphos towards Famagusta. He reassured the public that future yellow weather warnings would not automatically trigger a CY-Alert message, as each situation would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Data from various weather stations revealed a mixed picture regarding rainfall following the alert. For instance, the Athalassa station in Nicosia and the port of Limassol both recorded zero rainfall in the 24 hours after the notification was sent. Paphos airport, on the other hand, registered a mere 0.3 millimeters of rain. In contrast, the western regions of Cyprus experienced significantly heavier rainfall, with Kathikas recording close to 24 millimeters and Larnaca airport measuring around 26 millimeters. The latter incident led to a temporary diversion of a flight that was initially bound for Larnaca.
Liasides acknowledged the potential risk of public desensitization to frequent alerts. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the public understands the nature of the messages they receive. “What matters is that people read the message and, if there’s nothing they need to do and it’s purely for information, they’ve been informed and that’s where it ends,” he stated.
The Civil Defence's proactive approach aims to keep the public informed about weather-related risks, even when immediate impacts may not be felt in all areas. As weather patterns can vary significantly across the island, officials continue to encourage residents to stay vigilant and prepared for changing conditions.