As with many locations, an unfortunate lack of knowledge as to the weather and climate during the trip can lead to not packing appropriate clothing. Lacking in weather-appropriate clothing for a trip can, of course, have negative repercussions with regards to enjoyment while on the trip. As a result it is best to know what the weather is like before undertaking a trip to beautiful Cyprus.
General Climate
The north eastern part of the island of Cyprus is considered semi-arid. Overall, however, the area has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. The area experiences quite mild, rainy winters, with snowfall only happening in the mountain range known as the Troodos mountains which are located in the central part of the island. Humidity in the winter ranges between 60% to 80%. During the summer months, a traveller can expect to encounter warm to hot temperatures and little rainfall. Average humidity in the summer is somewhere in the range of 40% to 60%. The area experiences short springs and autumns, and fog is not common. Winds tend to be light to moderate, with occasional strong winds but most strong gales are kept to the coast and high elevation areas.
Let the Sunshine In
Overall, Cyprus is quite sunny experiencing up to 3,500 hours of sunshine per year, almost double that of many northern European locations. Most of the sunshine is seen in July, which can have up to 13 hours of sunshine on average per day between April and September. During the winter months Sol shines significantly less than even many northern European cities, with only 5 to 6 hours of sunshine per day on average.
Rainfall
Rainfall is significantly more abundant during winter months, especially in the cooler and higher mountainous regions of Cyprus. Most of the rainfall can be experienced between November and March. From approximately the middle of May to the middle of September there is significantly less rainfall, which frequently leads to droughts, occasionally severe, during these months.
Average annual rainfall in the mountainous regions can reach up to 1,100 millimetres (43.3 inches) in the highest portions of the Troodos mountains and as low as 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) annually in the Mesaoria region. Statistically, the island has had shown a trend for decreasing rainfall in the last three decades.
Temperatures
Cyprus is considered to have perhaps the warmest climate in the Mediterranean portion of the European Union, with an average annual temperature hovering around 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and dropping down to 14 Celsius (57 Fahrenheit) during the night hours. Of course, the exact temperature depends on location and time of year. During the summer temperatures can rise as high as 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) and during the winter can drop as low as 7 Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) at night during the coldest months.