Alpha News

How Accurate Were the 'Minalla' Predictions? Forecasts for Over a Meter of Snow in Troodos

Published January 10, 2026, 10:19

Leonidas Leonides, who has been making 'minalla' (traditional weather predictions) for 66 years, is assessing the accuracy of this year's forecasts. He acknowledges a slight deviation of about four days in the prediction of the first rains due to the influence of the low-pressure system Barbara. However, his predictions for the rains during the Adel low-pressure period and the Byron storm were confirmed. Mr. Leonides predicts that snowfall in Troodos will exceed one meter by January 20th. He points out a change in weather patterns, where phenomena seem to enter mainly from Paphos and affect coastal areas before moving south or north. This change, combined with climate change, makes predictions more difficult compared to previous years when accuracy reached 90%. Mr. Leonides expresses his concern about the environmental degradation in Cyprus, mentioning the increase in buildings with glass facades, the installation of photovoltaic systems, the increase in cars, and the covering of green spaces with concrete. He believes that the reflection of heat from these surfaces exacerbates the situation. The 'minalla' are based on observing the sky and weather phenomena from the beginning of August, a practice followed by older generations due to the lack of technology. Mr. Leonides begins his recordings on August 3rd each year, insisting that he will continue to pursue what he loves, despite negative criticism.