Northern Cyprus Records Driest January in 50 Years

January 2025 has gone down as the driest January in Northern Cyprus in half a century, with just 6.0 mm of rainfall recorded throughout the month.

According to the TRNC Meteorology Department, this is the lowest amount of January rainfall recorded between 1975 and 2025. By comparison, the average January precipitation between 1991 and 2020 was 74.9 mm.

The lack of rain has sparked concerns among meteorologists about climate change and the risk of drought in the region.

However, February is proving to be the complete opposite—one of the wettest and windiest months on record. Since the beginning of the month, Northern Cyprus has been battered by continuous rain, thunderstorms, and hail, with the downpours finally subsiding today.

Over the past 24 hours, the highest recorded rainfall was in Serdarlı, where 4 mm of rain fell.

This follows a series of extreme weather events in 2024. Last year, Northern Cyprus experienced its hottest temperatures in nearly 50 years, surpassing records set in 1975.

The most intense single-day rainfall was recorded on January 30, 2024, in Geçitkale, where an astonishing 179.4 mm fell in just 24 hours. Meanwhile, the strongest winds of the year were recorded on November 24 in Serdarlı, reaching an incredible speed of 171 km/h.