**Today’s Weather: Stormy Start, Clearing Skies Ahead**
Cyprus is set to experience a day of mixed weather conditions on Friday, with an initial stormy outlook giving way to clearer skies later in the day. The forecast indicates that the island will be predominantly cloudy, accompanied by local rains and isolated hailstorms, particularly affecting the mountainous regions and the eastern half of the island after midday.
As the day progresses, the weather is expected to improve significantly, leading to more favorable conditions. Temperatures are projected to reach around 31 degrees Celsius inland, while the west coast will see temperatures around 28 degrees. The rest of the coastal areas can anticipate temperatures near 29 degrees, and the higher mountainous regions will be cooler at approximately 22 degrees Celsius.
Wind conditions will also play a significant role in the day’s weather. Winds are anticipated to blow primarily from the southwest to northwest at speeds of 3 to 4 Beaufort. However, these winds may increase to 5 Beaufort and could temporarily reach up to 6 Beaufort in the southwestern areas. In the event of a storm, wind speeds could escalate to as high as 9 Beaufort, contributing to rough sea conditions. The sea is generally expected to be slightly rough, with periods of roughness noted on the windward coast.
As night falls, the weather is predicted to transition to mainly clear conditions, although there may be locally increased cloudiness, particularly in the western regions. Nighttime temperatures will drop to around 19 degrees Celsius inland, about 21 degrees along the coast, and around 13 degrees in the higher mountains. Winds will continue from the west to northwest at 3 to 4 Beaufort, occasionally becoming moderate on the windward coast at 4 Beaufort. The sea conditions are expected to remain a little rough, but will likely calm down in the south and east later in the evening.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are forecasted to be mainly clear across most parts of the island, with some temporary increases in cloud cover. However, clouds are expected to develop in the higher mountains and possibly in inland areas after noon, which may lead to isolated showers or even storms. Temperatures are projected to rise on Saturday and see a slight increase on Sunday, while no significant changes are expected on Monday.
In summary, while Friday will begin with stormy weather, residents and visitors to Cyprus can look forward to a gradual improvement in conditions as the day progresses, leading into a clearer and warmer weekend.