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- Ελληνικά
The Department of Meteorology, in its effort to provide agro-meteorological support for agriculture in the area, issues within the first ten days of each month a special agro-meteorological bulletin based on the relevant World Meteorological Organization standard.
The bulletin consists of three parts. The first part presents the climatic characteristics of the month, the second part presents the seasonal forecast for the month and the third part contains preliminary meteorological data from previous months. For the understanding of the meteorological terms used, an appropriate glossary of meteorological terms is posted on the website.
The bulletin is posted on the website of the Department and is updated within the first ten days of each month, while the effort to enrich it will be continuous.
April Climatology
April, which will be analysed climatically below, is the second month of the transition period from the cold and rainy period of the year, i.e. the traditional winter, to the warm and dry period of the year, i.e. the traditional summer.
April, as well as the entire current quarter of March, April and May, is characterised by episodes of storm activity, due to the combination of the dynamic causes of the upper atmosphere and the thermal instability of its boundary layers.
In general, April, like the entire current quarterly period, is also characterised at the climatic level by dust episodes, which are sometimes intense.
In order to obtain a more complete picture of the climatic and mainly agro-meteorological characteristics of April, the table below presents data from the stations of Athalassa, Larnaca and Paphos airports, Achna, Polos Chrysochous and Prodromos, which have been selected for this purpose as representative meteorological stations.
Seasonal forecast for April
April is expected to be 1 to 2oC warmer than normal, as is the wider surrounding area. In terms of expected rainfall this is disappointing as it is expected to be below 50% of normal across the island. Low cumulative rainfall totals look set to be experienced in Greece, much of Asia Minor, and the Near and Middle East (*).
Preliminary March meteorological data
From the preliminary data for March, as recorded by the Department of Meteorology, and shown in the table below for the selected reference stations, it appears that March had much higher temperatures than the seasonal model suggested it would have. March was expected to be 1 to 2°C warmer than normal, but it turned out to be even warmer, by 2.3 to 3.2°C. Temperature extremes, both maxima and minima, with a deviation of more than 4°C from normal, were also observed at all reference stations. Indicative is the maximum temperature at Achna which was 31.8°C with the normal being 19°C and the maximum temperature at Prodromos which was 23°C with the normal being 10.4°C. In terms of minimum temperatures, indicative is the highest minimum temperature in Larnaca which was 18.3°C with the normal being 8.6°C and the minimum temperature in Prodromos which was 12.2°C with the normal being 2.8°C.
In terms of cumulative rainfall, it appears from preliminary data that March recorded a cumulative rainfall of 22.3mm or 46% of normal for the month. A rate of cumulative rainfall which the seasonal model estimated very well.
For the periods 2-11, 14-22, 25 and 27 of March localized rainfall was recorded, several times accompanied by thunderstorms.
It is also worth mentioning that from the preliminary data it appears that hail occurred on 18 March. In fact, the amount of hail that occurred on that day was particularly high for the period in which it occurred, which is classified as an extreme event for the island.
Also again according to the preliminary data, snowfall occurred on 15 March.
For the periods 18 and 20 March, EMMA warnings were issued at the yellow level of importance, which concerned thunderstorms.
Average morning relative humidity ranged between 58-67%.
Evaporation and Sunshine Data for February
For the purpose of better planning of existing crops, a table of evaporation and sunshine data for selected weather stations again is provided.
[BB]For better overview of the geographical distribution of rainfall, a map of the geographical distribution of the preliminary cumulative rainfall for March is presented below, as well as a map with the climatic rainfall for March based on the climate period 1981-2010.
(*) It is noted that in some cases there is uncertainty in the seasonal model's prediction of cumulative rainfall, so it is presented with caution.
(EAT/MS)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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