A powerful winter front swept across Cyprus’s western coast on 21 December, pelting the Paphos district with marble-sized hail and turning key sections of the Limassol–Paphos motorway into an icy white carpet. The downpour, which started shortly after noon and lasted just over an hour, reduced visibility to near-zero at times and triggered multiple traffic advisories from the police and civil defence authorities.
Yeroskipou—home to Paphos International Airport and several logistics parks—was among the hardest-hit areas. Police urged drivers heading to the airport to switch on headlights, halve their speed and allow extra braking distance, while flight-handling agents warned passengers to allow additional time for check-in. Although no commercial flights were cancelled, ground-handling crews reported minor delays in aircraft turnaround as ramp equipment was temporarily halted during the height of the storm.
The Fire Service, which activated special response teams, fielded dozens of calls related to flooded underpasses and stalled vehicles. Extra personnel were recalled to the Paphos station and municipal crews worked through the afternoon to clear blocked drains on access roads to the tourist strip and industrial estate. By early evening, the weather system had moved eastwards, but forecasters kept a yellow alert in place until 20:00, citing the risk of isolated thunderstorms and localised flooding.
![Severe Hailstorm and Flooding Disrupt Road Links Around Paphos Airport]()
During unpredictable events like this, securing travel documentation quickly can be just as important as monitoring weather bulletins. VisaHQ’s online platform offers expedited Cyprus visa services and real-time application tracking—helpful for travellers who need to adjust routes or extend their stay when flights are delayed. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/.
For corporate travel managers, the episode underlines the growing volatility of Mediterranean winter weather and the need for contingency planning. Companies with assignees in Paphos—particularly those relying on same-day trips to Nicosia or Larnaca—should review duty-of-care programmes, ensure employees receive real-time road and flight updates, and consider flexible work-from-hotel policies when extreme weather strikes.
The hailstorm also puts renewed pressure on infrastructure planners. Industry groups have long called for weather-resilient upgrades to the airport access road and the ageing drainage network around the motorway interchange. Hermes Airports said it is assessing whether additional covered walkways and anti-flood pumps are required ahead of the busy EU Council Presidency semester in 2026, when Cyprus expects a 20 percent spike in inbound delegations.
Yeroskipou—home to Paphos International Airport and several logistics parks—was among the hardest-hit areas. Police urged drivers heading to the airport to switch on headlights, halve their speed and allow extra braking distance, while flight-handling agents warned passengers to allow additional time for check-in. Although no commercial flights were cancelled, ground-handling crews reported minor delays in aircraft turnaround as ramp equipment was temporarily halted during the height of the storm.
The Fire Service, which activated special response teams, fielded dozens of calls related to flooded underpasses and stalled vehicles. Extra personnel were recalled to the Paphos station and municipal crews worked through the afternoon to clear blocked drains on access roads to the tourist strip and industrial estate. By early evening, the weather system had moved eastwards, but forecasters kept a yellow alert in place until 20:00, citing the risk of isolated thunderstorms and localised flooding.
During unpredictable events like this, securing travel documentation quickly can be just as important as monitoring weather bulletins. VisaHQ’s online platform offers expedited Cyprus visa services and real-time application tracking—helpful for travellers who need to adjust routes or extend their stay when flights are delayed. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/.
For corporate travel managers, the episode underlines the growing volatility of Mediterranean winter weather and the need for contingency planning. Companies with assignees in Paphos—particularly those relying on same-day trips to Nicosia or Larnaca—should review duty-of-care programmes, ensure employees receive real-time road and flight updates, and consider flexible work-from-hotel policies when extreme weather strikes.
The hailstorm also puts renewed pressure on infrastructure planners. Industry groups have long called for weather-resilient upgrades to the airport access road and the ageing drainage network around the motorway interchange. Hermes Airports said it is assessing whether additional covered walkways and anti-flood pumps are required ahead of the busy EU Council Presidency semester in 2026, when Cyprus expects a 20 percent spike in inbound delegations.
