Cyprus is a summer holiday destination favoured by sun-seekers the world over, with soaring temperatures during the typical summer months of July and August and decent weather in the rest of the year as well.
Protaras is a purpose-built holiday resort located on the southeast coast of the island, ideally placed between the towns of Famagusta, Paralimni, and the famous clubbing mecca of Ayia Napa. You can easily jump on a bus or in a taxi and explore further, but the resort itself also has enough on offer to keep everyone occupied during the summer monthsnd during the rest of year, for that matter. Protaras is still a pleasant place to visit during the cooler months, although some hotels and restaurants may close down after the summer season crowds have departed. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy in the serene and quiet conditions at this time of year, despite the fact that during the winter months the town pretty much shuts down in terms of tourism.
One of the biggest pulls to this part of the world, especially during the summer months, is, of course, the weather. Protaras experiences a dry Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers, occasionally experiencing heat waves, and short, mild winters. During summer, rainfall is virtually non-existent, with July the hottest month of the year, and December the wettest. The mountains in the southwest of Cyprus do a great job of trapping moist air, keeping this part of the island drier.
Protaras' climate features four very distinct seasons. If you're interested in a detailed and up-to-date weather forecast for this resort, you can consult this weather forecast page.
Spring Weather in Protaras
Spring makes an appearance from March through May. It isn't until mid-May, however, that you will experience much warmer temperatures, which makes this month particularly great to visit before the searing temperatures of summer. That being said; the other spring months, March and April, are very comfortable, too. The average high temperature is a wonderful 19°C in March, reaching 22°C in April, rising to 26°C in May. Nighttime low temperature increase rapidly as well throughout the season, from merely 8°C in the beginning to a pleasant 15°C toward the end.
Rain quickly diminishes as the season goes on. While March is still one of the wetter months of the year, with a total of 42mm of precipitation over 9 days, May is already exceptionally dry, receiving only 9mm of precipitation in the course of that month. April is also quite dry.
The average number of daily sunshine hours increases dramaticallyrom 10 hours per day to 13 hours per day, both numbers that are already extremely high, especially when compared with other European destinations in spring.
Spring is an ideal time of year to enjoy outdoor pursuits, as the weather is very comfortably and dry, yet not too hot. Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea will have to wait until summer (or maybe late-spring), though, as water temperatures range between 17°C and 21°C.
Summer Weather in Protaras
The summer season, June through September is hot, hot, hot! You can expect high temperatures to reach the mid-30°Cs during this season, with average high temperatures in July and August of 32°C. Heatwaves can and do occur, making this the best time to take advantage of the plentiful water sports on offer on the beaches of Protaras. Even at night, the mercury doesn't fall below 21°C on average in mid-summer, making after-dinner strolls and long evenings on a restaurant's terrace very popular things to do. These high temperatures will make you want to turn on the air-conditioning in your hotel room, especially at night, so keep that into consideration when booking your accommodation.
The sun shines for an average of 14 glorious hours per day during peak seasonune and July. In August, there are 13 sunshine hours per day; in September 12 hours. Add to this the fact the sea temperature also reaches its annual maximum in summer and you will realize how gorgeous this season is. The Mediterranean Sea is 28°C warm in August and September. This makes for absolutely spectacular beach weather.
In addition to all that, rain is non-existent. Hardly a drop of rain falls on Protaras in the summer seasonn the four summer months, there is merely 1mm of rainfall in total, which is ridiculously low!
Autumn Weather in Protaras
October and November are still fantastic times to visit Protaras, because the heat diminishes a little, but the weather is definitely still pleasant enough to sunbathe and swim. October experiences an average high of 27°C, which falls to 22°C in November. Nighttime low averages drop from 16°C to 12°C, which is not bad by any means. The overall average temperature in October and November is respectively 22°C and 17°C.
Throughout autumn, the sea temperature is still warm enough to go for dips in the Mediterranean Seat averages 26°C in October and 23°C in November.
However, rain is a more likely to be experienced than in the previous few months. Total rainfall increases from 19mm in October to 43mm in November, numbers that are quite low when compared to more northerly places in Europe. The sun shines for fewer hours per day, around 10 hours in October, and 9 in November, but still more than enough to enjoy the resort's beaches and take part in outdoor activities.
Winter Weather in Protaras
December through February is classed as winter, and December is the month you're most likely to need an umbrella. 80mm of precipitation falls down on Protaras during this month, which, together with January, is also the least sunny month. However, with still 8 hours of sunshine per day on average, it can hardly be said to be a dark season. January and February are the second and third wettest months of the year. They are also the "coldest".
The average high temperature rarely falls below 16°C during the day, and nights are cool. The average temperature in winter ranges between 12°C in January and February and 14°C in December. This is no beach weather, as the low sea temperatures also indicate. The Mediterranean Sea averages a temperature of 17°C to 20°C in winter, which is too cool for comfortable swims. The climate still presents a welcome break from conditions closer to freezing found elsewhere.