Despite a series of heat warnings, July 2026 ranked as only the eighth-hottest July in Cyprus since systematic records began in 1968, according to the Meteorological Department.
The island was placed under yellow or orange heat warnings on 11 of the month’s 31 days. Even so, temperatures remained below previous July records, including the all-time high of 44.7°C recorded at Athalassa in 2025.
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Prolonged Heat Shaped Public Perception
Meteorological Department official Chrystalla Papachristodoulou said many people perceived this July as one of the hottest because of the prolonged heatwave rather than record-breaking temperatures.
Nine yellow and two orange warnings were issued, including seven consecutive days of yellow alerts. After a brief break, temperatures climbed again, reaching 40.7°C on July 31. The month’s highest temperature was 43.2°C, while overnight lows exceeded 30°C at Athalassa.
Hot, But Not Record-Breaking
The highest temperatures this July reached 43.2°C at Athalassa, 38.5°C at Polis Chrysochous, 38.2°C at Larnaca Airport and 33°C at Prodromos, all below historical records for those locations. Yellow warnings were also issued in the Troodos mountains on four days.
The department added that temperatures can feel even higher in central Nicosia, where dense urban development amplifies heat beyond official weather station readings.
Although July brought several days of extreme heat, long-term data show it was warm rather than exceptional by Cyprus’ historical standards.
