Cyprus is facing a spell of intense heat on Sunday, as a warm air mass grips the region and dust levels in the atmosphere rise to potentially harmful levels.

According to the department of meteorology, the weather will remain mostly clear, though high cloud will develop by the afternoon. Dust will linger in the air, with concentrations expected to be elevated at times, prompting health concerns for sensitive groups.

Temperatures are set to climb to 38C in the interior, 29C on the west coast, around 31C on other coastal areas, and 28C in the higher mountains. Winds will blow mainly from the southwest to northwest at light to moderate strength, between 3 and 4 on the Beaufort scale. The sea will be calm to slightly rough.

On Sunday night, increased cloud cover is expected, with medium and high clouds persisting. Patchy mist or light fog may form in the early morning hours, especially in the east and southeast. Winds will shift to northwesterly to northeasterly, remaining light. Temperatures will drop to 23C inland and on the coast, and to 19C in mountainous areas. On Monday, medium and high cloud will continue to appear at intervals.

The weather will turn mostly clear again on Tuesday and Wednesday, though some local clouds may build up in the afternoons. Temperatures will hold steady on Monday, but a noticeable drop is expected by midweek, bringing conditions closer to the seasonal norm.