The recent rain and snowfall across Cyprus have brought welcome relief after years of drought and dry reservoirs. As it steps into the new year, the Eastern Mediterranean country is cautiously optimistic that it may avoid the looming threat of desertification.
The numbers speak for themselves. Inflows into Cyprus’ dams during November and December have been significantly higher than the past two years, both marked by drought. This past December alone saw a productive stretch of rain, with nearly 2.6 million cubic meters of water flowing into dams in just one week.
The latest measurements show some improvement in the water stored in Cyprus’ 18 largest dams, now at 26.1% of their total capacity. While this is definitely a step forward, it’s still far from sufficient to meet the growing demands for irrigation and water during the hot summer months and the busy tourism season.
While the rising dam levels are encouraging, much hinges on January. Historically, the first month of the year delivers the largest water inflows to dams, contributing significantly to the country’s reserves. Last year was an exception, though, with just 7.3 million cubic meters.