December 2023 has been identified as the second warmest December since 1961, as per the insights from the Monthly Weather Bulletin.

The bulletin highlighted that the average temperature reached 14.5°C, marking an increase of approximately 3 degrees Celsius above the norm. Additionally, the average rainfall was reported at 50.4mm, representing just 48% of the typical rainfall for the month. The total rainfall for the quarter (October-December 2023) stood at around 133.1mm, which is about 69% of the usual figures.

Importantly, the bulletin noted the absence of extreme weather phenomena during this period. However, it did report a significant event on December 11th, where intense storm activity caused power outages in parts of Nicosia and Larnaca. The month was predominantly characterized by severe drought conditions and unusually high temperatures across the island.

The bulletin further detailed that the average temperature for December was about 2.9°C above the standard levels. Average daily temperatures remained above or close to normal for most of the month. An exception was noted on December 10th in Prodromos, located in the Troodos mountains, where temperatures fell 2.3°C below normal.

In terms of maximum temperatures, the Athalassa station in Nicosia consistently exceeded 18°C throughout the month. Similarly, Paphos and Larnaca experienced temperatures above 19°C for the entire month. In the mountainous region of Prodromos, temperatures surpassed 8°C on 30 different days.

Most meteorological stations recorded their highest maximum temperatures between December 4th and 5th. The lowest temperatures were observed around December 19th-20th and 24th. This pattern of temperature fluctuations underscores the unique climatic conditions experienced during December 2023.