An exceptionally rainy January and continuing bad weather took the water-levels in the island’s dams to over 50 per cent capacity at the weekend, the Meteorological Service announced yesterday.

The news came as a storm-front lashed the island yesterday afternoon, bringing torrential rain to most areas, and hail and snow in the Troodos mountain-range. The bad weather made many roads dangerous to use, and some almost impassable.

A small tornado hit Tseri (Nicosia), ripping the roof off a house in Omirou Street and depositing it on two cars parked in the driveway, flattening them. According to initial police reports, the house next door also suffered some damage.

In Larnaca, despite heavy rain, and high winds and lightning, the Fire Brigade were only called out once, to rescue the driver of a car who had driven into a ditch due to the road surface being flooded.

Figures provided by the Meteorological Service yesterday showed that an area average rainfall of some 15 centimetres fell in January, almost 50 per cent more than the normal levels.

More snow is expected in the Troodos range today. Yesterday, 20 centimetres of snow were recorded on the summit of Mount Olympus, and 10 centimetres in Troodos Square.

State meteorologist Artemis Orfanou said that the bad and occasionally stormy weather is expected to continue until tonight, but a high pressure front due on Wednesday is expected to bring dry, cloudy skies for the next few days and raise temperatures above the seasonal average.