FIRST RAIN AFTER LONG SUMMER DRY SPELL IN CATALKOY

In Catalkoy, the first rainfall after a prolonged summer dry period produces a short but measurable shift in road behaviour. The exposure does not arise from heavy flooding or dramatic weather. It emerges from surface chemistry and timing.

Through June, July and August, the main east–west corridor and the smaller feeder roads accumulate a thin layer of dust, fine sand, tire residue and airborne particles. Coastal humidity binds these particles lightly to the asphalt surface. The layer remains invisible in dry conditions. Grip feels normal.

The first rain does not immediately wash this layer away.

Instead, the initial 20–40 minutes of light to moderate rainfall combine water with accumulated residue, forming a temporary surface film. The asphalt appears wet, but braking response feels fractionally delayed.

In Catalkoy, this effect is most noticeable along the lower corridor closer to the coastline and at slightly sloped sections descending from upper residential areas. These are not steep gradients. They are gentle inclines that normally require minimal braking adjustment.

During the first rain event, they require recalibration.

A common scenario unfolds on the main road heading west toward Kyrenia. Traffic volume remains moderate. Drivers reduce speed slightly in response to visible rainfall. However, the actual grip reduction during the initial rain phase is greater than perceived.

A vehicle approaches a routine junction or merge point and applies brakes with standard pressure. Stopping distance extends subtly. The driver compensates with firmer braking in the final meter. The following vehicle reacts in sequence. The pattern repeats.

No extreme manoeuvre occurs. Yet the chain of compressed braking increases rear-contact exposure.

The effect stabilizes after continuous rainfall washes the residue away. Typically, after one to two hours of steady rain, surface grip normalizes. The highest sensitivity exists during the transition from dry to wet, not during sustained rainfall.

Upper Catalkoy adds a secondary factor.

Residential slopes descending toward the main axis carry fine gravel and dust during the first rainfall. Small particles migrate toward bends and junction edges. The displacement is minor, but enough to reduce lateral stability during turning.

Between the first 30 minutes and the first hour of rainfall, this migration is at its peak.

Seasonal timing intensifies the effect.

The longer the dry spell preceding the rain, the thicker the accumulated surface residue. After particularly long heatwaves, the first rain event carries more behavioural adjustment risk than later autumn storms.

Importantly, this is not a flood event scenario. Water depth remains shallow. Hydroplaning is rare. The exposure is micro-level grip inconsistency during early rainfall.

In Catalkoy, the main corridor functions as a commuter route. Drivers maintain habitual braking points. When friction characteristics change unexpectedly, habitual timing becomes slightly misaligned.

That misalignment is brief but repeatable.

The road geometry does not change. Traffic volume does not surge dramatically. The risk window is defined by environmental transition.

After sustained rainfall clears the surface, braking response becomes predictable again. Drivers recalibrate unconsciously.

But during the first rain after a long dry summer in Catalkoy, the surface behaves differently for a short period.

The asphalt looks safe.

It simply requires more distance than expected.