The cold frontal depression that affected the area of Cyprus between 28 and 29 January 2008

Abstract

The baroclinic depression that affected the area of Cyprus during the cold period, between 28 and 29 January 2008 was thoroughly studied and is presented in the present paper. A small perturbation on a northwesterly flow to the north of Cyprus has initiated the generation of the depression and in 24 h this developed into a deep baroclinic system. This depression was associated with intense weather phenomena, such as heavy thunderstorms with hail and near gale force winds. Strong cold advection resulted in a significant temperature decrease; precipitation even in lower altitudes was in the form of snow, while the accumulated rainfall corresponded to the 25% of the monthly normal. January 2008 is considered as a dry month, despite the fact that, on the average, January is considered as the wettest month of the year. In this study, the evolution and development of the depression was investigated from synoptic, dynamic, energetic and thermodynamic perspectives, in order to enhance our knowledge on the life cycle and behaviour of similar depressions over the area with extreme characteristics. © Author(s) 2010.