The weather in Cyprus is one of the island's biggest draws, and you'll feel at home here if you put sunshine high on your list. Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate and around 320 days of sunshine a year, which is why so many expats, from young professionals to retirees, choose to settle on the island. The main geographical distinction to know is that the coast is milder than the interior, and the Troodos Mountains are a different world again.
Summer in Cyprus is from June to September, and the days are hot and dry almost everywhere. Rain is rare in midsummer, and cloudless skies are the norm. It's hottest on the central plain. In Nicosia, the average maximum in July and August is around 99°F (37°C), and temperatures above 104°F (40°C) are not unusual in a heatwave. The coast is a touch cooler, thanks to the sea breeze. Wherever you are, drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun in the early afternoon.
The wettest time of year is winter, from December to February, when most of the island's rain falls. Even then, the weather is mild by European standards. In Nicosia, average lows are about 41°F (5°C) and daytime highs about 61°F (16°C), so any real chill is brief. The mountains are the exception. Snow falls in the Troodos from around Christmas, and there's usually enough of it to ski from January into March.
For a lot of expats, September and October are the sweet spot. It's a kind of second spring. By then, the worst of the heat has passed, but the sea is still warm, and the rain is still weeks off.
Many newcomers settle on the coast, and the sea is a big part of the appeal. Around Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, the swimming season is a long one, from spring right through to autumn.
One local quirk worth knowing about is the Saharan dust that blows in on southerly winds, mostly in spring and early summer. For a day or two at a time, the sky is hazy and the air quality is poor, which can bother anyone with asthma or allergies. It usually clears within a day, and the island's weather service flags it in advance.