Average rainfall this August in the unoccupied territories totaled 30.0 mm, compared to the normal value of 2.9 mm for the month, corresponding to 1034% of the normal value. According to the Department of Meteorology, this is the highest average August rainfall in the available historical time series dating back to 1902.
The episode during the last days of the month was particularly decisive in making this August exceptional, according to the Department of Meteorology.
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According to the announcement, during the three-day period of August 28–30, the spatial average precipitation in the unbuilt areas was estimated at 22.5 mm, with the majority of this amount occurring on August 29.
It is also noted that the rainfall was widely distributed geographically, affecting a significant portion of the island, while in certain areas the total rainfall for the three-day period reached 50–75 mm.
This event played a decisive role in the exceptionally high total precipitation recorded in August 2026, explains the Department of Meteorology.
It is noted that the intensity and extent of the phenomena were linked to a particularly favorable combination of atmospheric conditions. The presence of a weak barometric low south of Cyprus, combined with a disturbance in the upper atmosphere, created conditions for the convergence of air masses in the lower layers of the troposphere.
The Department of Meteorology adds that this convergence facilitated the forced lifting of warm and moist air masses, while the vertical disturbance further intensified the upward movements and atmospheric instability. As a result, a particularly favorable environment was created for the development and maintenance of organized thunderclouds.
At the same time, the circulation around the weak low-pressure system contributed to changes in wind direction and intensity with altitude, increasing vertical wind shear.
According to the announcement, the combination of instability, available moisture, convergence in the lower layers, and increased wind shear allowed certain thunderstorms to become more organized and last longer.
This explains not only the increased rainfall amounts but also the occurrence of particularly intense phenomena in some areas, including heavy rainfall, hail, strong gusts of wind, and the occurrence of waterspouts in coastal areas, the announcement notes.
The Department of Meteorology reports that a historical comparison further highlights the rarity of this year’s rainfall total.
As noted in the announcement, the previous record was 20.6 mm in 1971. Consequently, the 30.0 mm recorded in 2026 exceeds the previous maximum by 9.4 mm, or approximately 46%.
At the same time, the Department of Meteorology adds that even more striking is the frequency of completely dry Augusts.
It notes that during the period 1902–2025, 30 out of 124 Augusts had zero average precipitation, that is, about 24% of the time series—nearly one in four. Only seven Augusts prior to 2026 exceeded 10 mm. The significant deviation of 2026 from this typical pattern is clearly reflected in the time series presented below.
At the same time, as noted in the press release, the lower frequency of zero values in recent decades is an interesting feature of the series, though this alone is not sufficient to draw conclusions about a climate trend without specific statistical analysis.
The spatial distribution of total precipitation during the three-day period of August 28–30, which primarily reflects the events of August 29, shows that the rainfall was not isolated or purely local in nature, according to the announcement.
It adds that the average rainfall for the area under the control of the Republic of Cyprus amounted to 22.5 mm over the three-day period, with the majority of it occurring on August 29.
It should be noted that the 30.0 mm figure refers to the total average rainfall for the entire month of August 2026 and not just a single day. Of this amount, 22.5 mm was recorded in total during the three-day period from August 28–30, according to the Department of Meteorology.
Furthermore, the Department’s available data indicate that the majority of this precipitation occurred on August 29, while the amounts on August 28 and 30 were comparatively negligible.
The Department of Meteorology notes that August 2026 represents a historic exception for Cyprus. In a month during which nearly one in four Augusts from 1902 to 2025 was completely dry, this year’s average precipitation reached 30.0 mm, exceeding the previous record by approximately 46%.
The rainfall event on August 29 was the decisive factor in setting the new record and highlights the potential for rare but particularly extensive summer rainfall events in the region of Cyprus, the announcement concludes.
A historic August in Cyprus: average rainfall reached 30.0 mm, the highest figure since 1902. Of this total, 22.5 mm were recorded over the three-day period of August 28–30, mainly due to the weather events of August 29. Press release follows pic.twitter.com/HymEPUUfCw
— CYMET (@CyMeteorology) September 9, 2026
