The first signs of another boiling summer are being felt nationwide today as the mercury has already climbed to 40C in the capital.

The Director of the Meteorological Service Kyriacos Theofilou, said that the temperature is five degrees higher than normal for this time of year, with the normal level being around 35C.

Theophilou said that a gradual drop in temperatures are expected from Saturday to Monday.

The temporary heatwave is due to the transfer of hot air masses from the Middle East to Cyprus.

Theophilou added that temperatures in excess of 38C in June are a normal phenomenon and said that in 2007 the mercury rose to 43.5C in mid-June.

In 1944 temperatures of 44C were recorded in June.

Yesterday, with air conditioners working full power, the maximum demand for electricity reached 844 MW at 3.45 in the afternoon.