Cyprus records second heaviest rainy season since 1901
The 2018/19 rainy season in Cyprus is coming to an end and national meteorologists report it was the fourth heaviest since records began in 1901. When February data becomes official, it should rise to the second heaviest.
A total of 12 reservoirs overflowed during the season, the Cyprus Mail reports in an excellent data-rich article published February 25.
According to met office statistics, a total of 481.5 mm (18.95 inches) of rainfall was recorded in the period October-January, with the highest figure of 197.3 mm (7.76 inches) of rainfall recorded in January. The amount surpasses the rainfall levels recorded in 2017/18, which saw a total of 275.1 mm (10.83 inches) of rain.
Record rain seasons since 1901 were those of 1968/69 with 614.4 mm (24.18 inches) of rainfall, 1929/30 with 492.4 mm (19.38 inches), and 1911/12 with 483.7 mm (19.04 inches).
By Monday, February 25, a total of 111.3 mm (4.38 inches) of rainfall was recorded in the month of February, raising total rainfall since October 1 to 592.8 mm (23.33 inches), suggesting that this rainy season could rise to the second heaviest since 1901.
The heaviest rainfall since the beginning of February was recorded in Xylotymbou – 162.6 mm (6.40 inches) or 306% of its average rainfall, followed by Xylotymbou with 155.33 mm (6.11 inches) or 213% and Platania with 140 mm (5.51 inches) or 95%.
Reservoirs are at 72.2% of average capacity as of February 25 and they will continue to fill until the end of April even without additional rainfall.
Featured image credit: Myria Antoniadou @MyriaAntoniadou
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