Rainy Season in Cyprus — November-March. How Much Rain Really Falls and When
Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate with a clear division into a dry season (May–October) and a rainy season (November–March). "Rainy season" sounds ominous to a tourist — but Cypriot rainy season is very different from, for example, the Thai monsoon or the Irish autumn. How much rain really falls, when, and what does it practically mean for a visitor to the island?
Rainfall Data — Monthly
| Month | Rainfall Larnaca (mm) | Days with Rainfall | Type of Rainfall | |---------|-------------------|---------------|------------| | January | 65–75 | 10–12 | Short, intense showers | | February | 70–85 | 11–13 | Like January | | March | 35–50 | 8–10 | Mixed, often sunny | | April | 15–25 | 4–6 | Showers | | May | 5–10 | 1–3 | Rare | | June | 0–3 | 0–1 | Practically none | | July | 0–1 | 0 | None | | August | 0–2 | 0 | None | | September | 5–15 | 1–2 | First showers | | October | 20–35 | 4–6 | Beginning of the rainy season | | November | 65–80 | 9–12 | Intense rainy season | | December | 75–95 | 11–14 | Wettest month |
Annual rainfall Larnaca: approx. 310–380 mm. For comparison: Warsaw — approx. 530 mm, Kraków — approx. 620 mm, London — 600 mm.
Cyprus is one of the driest islands in the Mediterranean basin. The total amount of rain is less than in Poland — but the distribution is extremely uneven.
What Cypriot Rain Looks Like
The key difference between Cypriot rain and Polish drizzle: intensity vs duration.
Cypriot rains are usually:
- Intense: 20–40 mm in 1–2 hours
- Short: lasting 1–4 hours
- Intermittent sunshine: after the rain, the sun often comes out for several hours
- Rarely: continuous rain all day (it happens, but it's an exception)
In Poland: 10 mm of rain spread over 6 hours of mist and drizzle. In Cyprus: 20 mm in 2 hours, then sunshine.
This means that even in December — the wettest month — many days are at least partially sunny.
Rainy Season and Tourism — Practically
November
- Regular rains, but not every day
- Temperatures 18–22°C during the day
- Sunny periods: 2–3 days without rain are the norm
- Good for: cultural tourism, walks, photography
- Not good for: sunbathing, water sports
December
- Wettest month — 11–14 days with rainfall
- But rains are short — it may rain in the morning and be sunny in the afternoon
- Temperatures 14–18°C
- On Troodos: snow possible from mid-month
January
- Similar to December
- Temperatures 12–16°C
- Possible storms
- Almond blossom at the end of the month (in a warm year)
February
- Still rainy (65–85 mm)
- Almond blossom in full bloom
- Temperatures 13-17°C
- Good for hiking and exploring the island
March
- Temperatures 15-20°C
- Wildflowers - poppies, cornflowers, orchids
Water Temperatures in the Rainy Season
The sea does not cool down as quickly as the air:
- November: 22-24°C water
- December: 20-22°C
- January: 17-19°C
- February: 16-18°C
- March: 17-18°C
Swimming possible year-round for the hardy. Many Cypriots swim all year.
Practical Guide — Quick Questions and Answers
Is Cyprus expensive? Compared to Western Europe - average. Cheaper than France, Italy, Germany. More expensive than Poland, Bulgaria, Albania. Restaurant meal: 15-25 EUR/person. Hotel 3*: 60-100 EUR/night. Car rental: 25-45 EUR/day.
What language is spoken in Cyprus? Greek (official), English (widely spoken - a legacy of British rule). Service in English is readily available in tourist areas. Greek is not required.
Do I need a visa? No. Cyprus is in the EU since 2004. Poles enter with a personal ID.
Do credit cards work? Yes, Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere in cities. Small villages and markets - cash is useful. ATMs EUR available at every bank.
Tips in Cyprus? Not mandatory, but appreciated. Standard: 5-10% of the bill in a restaurant, 1-2 EUR for a taxi on a short trip. For hotel service: 1-2 EUR/day for the maid.
Is Cyprus safe? Yes - one of the lowest crime rates in the EU. Police are visible. There are no typical "dangerous neighborhoods" like in other EU countries.
Internet in Cyprus? 4G/5G - 95% coverage in cities. EU roaming without charges for Polish operators. Wi-Fi is usually good in hotels and cafes.
Shop opening hours? Monday-Wednesday and Friday: 9:00-13:00 and 16:00-19:30. Thursday: 9:00-13:00 (then closed). Saturday: 9:00-14:00. Sunday: closed (except for shopping malls). Note: Wednesday and Saturday afternoons are closed - this is a Cypriot tradition.
Summary
The Cypriot rainy season (November–March) is much milder than the word "rainy season" suggests. 70–85 mm of rainfall in December is less than Poland gets in May. The rains are intense, but short — the sun usually comes out in the afternoon. For a tourist with the right attitude and planning, the rainy season is also the most beautiful and cheapest time to visit Cyprus.
Flash Floods - A Real Risk
Cyprus is a dry island with dry riverbeds (wadis). When it rains intensely, these riverbeds can fill up very quickly. In 2012 and 2019, severe flash floods caused fatalities in Cyprus.
Safety rule: Do not park or walk near a dry riverbed during rain. Flash floods appear without warning and can move 5-10 km/h along the riverbed.
Larnaca Salt Lake and Flamingos
The Salt Lake (Aliki Larnaca) is active as a water reservoir from November to March/April. During this time - especially in December-February - hundreds, and in good years thousands, of flamingos spend the season here. They have flown from Iran and Kazakhstan via the Black Sea.
In July and August: the lake is completely dry, white with salt - a surreal sight.
For nature photographers - winter Cyprus with flamingos near the Hala Sultan Tekke old mosque is one of Europe's unique photos.
Green Cyprus - Rainy Season Views
Kypr changes color in November:
- September Cyprus: yellow and brown from the summer heat
- December Cyprus: intense green like an Irish lawn
- March Cyprus: wildflowers - poppies, cornflowers, orchids
Landscape photographers often prefer the rainy season for this greenery and dramatic skies - dark clouds over bright monuments, rainbows over the Troodos mountains.
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