Supported by
Alert on phones. Authorities warn of flood risk.
Alerts have begun appearing on phones for people in areas affected by heavy rainfall. The message warns of an increased risk of flooding and urges people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay home for their own safety.
The warning comes amid severe storms sweeping across the island on Saturday. The orange alert is in effect until 7:00 p.m., with locally heavy rainfall, hail, and strong wind gusts possible. The Fire Department is already receiving numerous weather-related calls.
The rest of the article is below
Phone alert warns of floods
The message displayed on phones informs that there is heavy rainfall in a given area and an increased risk of flooding.
The authorities are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay at home.
The English part of the announcement reads:
"Heavy rainfall and an increased risk of flooding are occurring in your area. Avoid unnecessary travel and stay home for your own safety. Monitor information and follow official recommendations."
On some phones the warning may be described by the operating system as "Presidential Alert"This is the name of the alert category displayed on the phone – the most important thing is the content of the message regarding the weather threat.
The orange alert is valid until 7:00 p.m.
The Department of Meteorology has issued an orange warning for severe thunderstorms for Saturday, August 29.
It is valid from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10:00 to 19:00.
According to the official warning, local rainfall intensity may reach 55–70 mm per hour.
Hail is also possible, and during storms, the wind may change direction suddenly and become significantly stronger for a short time.
CHECK ALSO
Orange alert details, forecasted rainfall and warnings for today:
https://cyprnews.pl/pomaranczowy-alert-pogodowy-silne-burze-grad-i-do-70-mm-deszczu-na-godzine/
The Fire Department is receiving many calls
The situation is no longer just a forecast.
At 11:40 a.m., KYPE reported that the Fire Department had begun receiving a large number of calls from the Nicosia district regarding the ongoing storm.
The reports concern the effects of intense weather phenomena passing through the region.
The police also appealed to drivers to be especially careful.
During heavy rain, hail and strong winds, road conditions can change in a matter of moments and visibility can drop dramatically.
Storms also cause power outages
Strong storm activity also began to cause problems in the power grid.
The Cyprus Energy Authority (EAC) reported infrastructure damage caused by lightning strikes this morning.
Outages were reported in various places, mainly in the areas Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos.
According to the EAC, lightning damages components of the electrical grid, causing local outages and power supply problems.
Don't drive onto a flooded road
Civil Defense has published recommendations on how to behave during intense storms.
First of all, unnecessary travel should be limited.
If the road is flooded, you should not try to exceed it – neither by car, nor by motorcycle, bicycle or on foot.
If water appears on the route, stop and turn around.
People in basements or other areas below ground level should leave if water begins to seep in and move to a safe, higher location.
Civil Defense also recommends securing outdoor items that may be carried away by water or strong winds, and avoiding power lines and areas at risk of landslides.
CHECK ALSO
You can check the current conditions and forecast for the largest cities and regions here:
https://cyprnews.pl/pogoda-na-cyprze/
The weather should improve in the evening
Unstable conditions are expected to continue through Saturday afternoon.
The latest forecast predicts local rainfall and thunderstorms, and during the phenomena the wind may reach 6 on the Beaufort scale with even stronger gusts.
The situation should begin to improve significantly in the evening. However, isolated showers may still occur, primarily along the north and east coasts.
Until then, the most important thing is to follow official announcements and avoid places where water accumulates quickly.
Sources: Republic of Cyprus Civil Defence, Meteorological Department, KYPE/CNA, Police, EAC,
