Cyprus has entered true winter following the solstice, with nights gradually shortening toward the spring equinox in March. Former Meteorology Department Director Kleanthis Nikolaides, speaking on SigmaLive’s “Protoselido,” warned of intensifying cold, dropping temperatures, rains, storms, and mountain snows in the coming days. This seasonal turn masks a dire water reality amid the climate crisis.
The expert painted a stark picture using data, images, and examples to underscore Cyprus’s deepening crisis. Recent rains brought December precipitation to about 85% of normal levels, yet benefits for reservoirs remain limited.
Alarming dam levels
Cyprus dams are at a tragic 9.3% fullness as of December 23, compared to 25.4% at the same time last year. Much of the stored water appears degraded, showing green algae and mud that demands extra treatment before agricultural use. The sector already faces contraction.
Heavy rains proved spatially uneven. Areas like Polis Chrysochous recorded 140-150% of normal rainfall, while the Pentadaktylos mountains saw around 200 mm. However, most fell on coasts rather than dam catchment basins, yielding minimal reservoir gains.
Climate patterns and challenges
Nikolaides expressed caution on building new dams in response to shifting rain patterns. Construction proves extremely costly and complex, especially in developed coastal zones where land acquisition and expropriations border on impossible.
He highlighted intensifying geological risks like sinkholes from gypsum or limestone dissolution by water. Recent weeks spotlighted these in public discourse. While Turkey sees massive examples tied to over-pumping groundwater, Cyprus experiences smaller ones in areas such as Perachori, Athienou, Tsakileros, Larnaca, Leftympou, and Polemi – even within residential zones. Building cracks serve as warning signs.
Broader climate crisis
The global climate crisis manifests clearly in 2025 records: January was the hottest ever worldwide, followed by scorching summer months. Oceans and seas hit temperature peaks, explaining Cyprus’s coastal rain shifts versus past mountain snows feeding dams.
Locally, the 2024-2025 hydrological year ending late September ranked among the driest since 1878, with just 312.5 mm total rain. March 2025 saw only 21% of normal precipitation, and November 41% despite its rainy reputation. January marked Cyprus’s hottest on record.
Climate change translates to tangible economic costs, from California’s billion-dollar wildfires to Asia’s deadly monsoon floods and Europe’s heatwaves. For Cyprus, studies project up to €29 billion in damages by 2050 across transport, energy, agriculture, livestock, and tourism without course correction. A shift to renewables could slash this, though atmospheric memory lingers.
Visible drought impacts
Satellite images reveal drought scars in areas like Kokkinohoria and once-fertile Morphou Bay, signaling national wealth loss and landscape transformation. Rising temperatures and falling rains herald a new reality unfolding now, Nikolaides stressed.
Also read: Paphos dams water inflow remains negligible after rainfall
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