Snowfall was recorded in almost all districts on Thursday at lower altitudes than normal as Cyprus experienced the coldest day yet of the current bout of wintry weather so far this year.
At around noon, a short light snow shower even hit Nicosia city centre.
The education ministry announced that several schools in the Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia districts had closed on Thursday due to heavy snowfall and that they were to evaluate the situation again early Friday.In the Nicosia District, the kindergartens and primary schools in Evrychou, Kakopetria, Kampos, Korakou, Temvria and Moutoullas remained closed.
In Limassol, the primary schools of Agros, Kyperounta, Pachna, Pelendri, Kato Platres, Trimiklini, Ayios Amvrosios, Pissouri, Kalo Chorio and Pano Kyvides were closed, in Paphos, they included schools in Yiolou, Droushia, Inia, Panayia, Polemi, Stroumbi, Argaka, Pomos, Simou, Tsada and Polis Chrysochous.
The high schools of Agros, Lemythou, Omodos, Polemi and Solia also remained closed, while the Polis Chrysochous and Pyrgos Tyllirias high schools operated with fewer students and staff.
Snow on the Pentadaktylos was reported to have reached 12cm on some parts of the mountain range and the road between Nicosia and Kyrenia was said to be dangerous for driving.
The forecast is for isolated showers and thunderstorms in mountainous and hilly regions with occasional snowfall or sleet. Temperatures are expected to be at least six degrees lower than normal for this time of the year but could reach as low as zero inland, 4C along the coast and -6C in the mountains. Frost is expected in most areas by nightfall.
The weather patterns are expected to gradually start improving by midnight, the met office said, while temperatures are expected to rise in the weekend.
Drivers are advised to be very careful and to follow police instructions either through the police website, social media or phone apps.
Police announced in the afternoon that due to the overflow of Xeros River in Paphos, the Nata-Choletria and Kelokedara- Nata roads were closed to traffic.
Due to heavy snowfall, the flowing roads were entirely closed to traffic:
Paphos:
Asproyia-Panayia-Ayios Fotios
Ayios Nicolaos-Mandria
Ayios Nicolaos-Kaminaria
Tsada-Yiolou
Yialia-Pyrgos Tyllirias
Pentalia-Panayia
Limassol:
All roads leading to Troodos (Prodromos-Troodos, Platres-Troodos, Karvounas-Troodos) and the Platres-Trooditissa-Prodromos road.
The following roads are open only to vehicles with snow chains or four-wheel drive:
All roads of the Limassol semi-mountainous areas.
Paphos:
Paphos-Tsada
Tsada-Polis Chrysochous
Tsada-Kallepia
Panayia-Asproyia
Arminou-Filousa – one lane is closed to traffic due to rock slides.
Peyia-kathikas-Arodes
Nata-Axilos-Amargeti
Prastio to Kidasi main road, after the Trachypedoula junction – one lane is closed to traffic due to rock slides.
Nicosia:
Kakopetria-Karvounas
Kakopetria-Spilia
Kakopetria-Pinewood-Pedoulas
Pedoulas-Moutoullas-Kalopanayiotis
Pedoulas-Kykkos-Kampos
Moutoullas-Pedoulas
Pedoulas-Prodromos
Prodromos-Platres
Prodromos-Lemythou
Evrychou-Kakopetria
Kato Pyrgos-Pachyammos
Kykkos-Milikouri
Kykkos-Satvros tis Psokas
Orkonda-Kampos
Piyiainnia-Pachyammos
The following roads are slippery due to snowfall, police said.
Paphos:
Mesoyi-Tsada
Kelokedara-Salamiou-Arminou-Mesana-Filousa
Ayia Varvara-Statos
Source: Cyprus-Mail