During December 2022, high maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded in several areas of Cyprus, so that December is generally recorded as an unusually warm month for several areas of Cyprus.
From the objective observations at the Department's stations it appears that the average daily maximum temperature for December this year was. [*] at the Polis Chrysochous station, 22.7°C, which is the highest average daily maximum for the month of December since 1968 when this station was installed and operated. [*]at the station of Aer. Larnaca station, 21.2°C, which is the second highest average daily maximum for December (the absolute highest average daily maximum, 21.3°C, was recorded in December 2010) since 1976 when this station was installed and operated. [*]. Pafos station, 21.2°C, which is the fourth consecutive highest mean daily maximum for December (the absolute highest mean daily maximum, 21.7°C, was recorded in December 2010) since 1983 when this station was installed and operated. [*] at the Forest College Prodromos station, 12.0°C, which is also the fourth highest average daily maximum for December (absolute highest average daily maximum, 12.3°C, recorded in December 2017) since 1958 when this station was installed and operated.
It is also reported that from the objective observations of the Department of Meteorology, it appears that the average daily minimum temperature for December this year was. Larnaca station, 12.2°C, which is the highest average daily minimum for the month of December since 1976 when this station was installed and operated. [*] at Polis Chrysochous station, 12.1°C, which is the highest average daily minimum for the month of December since 1968 when this station was installed and operated. [*]at the Forest College of Prodromos station, 5.7°C, which is the third highest average daily minimum for December (the absolute highest average daily minimum of 6.3°C was recorded in December 2010) since 1958 when this station was installed and operated. Paphos 12.1°C, which is the fifth highest mean daily minimum for December (the absolute highest mean daily minimum of 12.8°C recorded in December 2010) since 1983 when this station [*] was installed and operated at the Athalassa Radiation Station 8.4°C, which is the eighth consecutive highest mean daily minimum for December (the absolute highest mean daily minimum of 9.2°C recorded during December 2010) since 1983 when the station was installed and operated.
According also to the preliminary precipitation data available to the Department for the month of December 2022, the cumulative rainfall just reached 33.6mm or 32% of normal (with the reference period for normal precipitation being the 1961-1990 climate period). Monthly rainfall was well below normal.
Thus, December 2022 ranks as the 13th driest December since 1901.
Based on preliminary data, localized showers and isolated thunderstorms occurred on December 2, 6-8, 11-16, 20-21, 23-26 and 29. Hail occurred on the 6th and 11th of the month, while snow occurred on December 15 in Troodos.
According to preliminary calculations, the total precipitation since the beginning of the hydrometeorological year, i.e. from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, reached about 181.7mm or 95% of normal.
The table below shows the 20 driest Decembers since 1901 to date.
The table below shows the 20 driest Decembers since 1901.
| YEAR | WATER QUANTITY (mm) | Driest December since 1901 |
| 1932 | 0.3 | 1 |
| 2006 | 9.2 | 2 |
| 1993 | 15.0 | 3 |
| 1995 | 15.6 | 4 |
| 1972 | 17.1 | 5 |
| 1937 | 19.1 | 6 |
| 1915 | 19.7 | 7 |
| 2005 | 23.0 | 8 |
| 1942 | 26.1 | 9 |
| 1931 | 28.5 | 10 |
| 1963 | 28.8 | 11 |
| 1973 | 32.6 | 12 |
| 2022 | 33.6 | 13 |
| 1901 | 34.0 | 14 |
| 2015 | 34.3 | 15 |
| 2017 | 35.2 | 16 |
| 1989 | 37.9 | 17 |
| 1990 | 39.4 | 18 |
| 1999 | 45.8 | 19 |
| 1970 | 47.0 | 20 |
(ΕΠ/ΙΚ)
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