Civil protection issues warning as severe weather arrives

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a public warning as severe weather conditions are expected to intensify from Friday, according to an emergency bulletin released by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service.

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms that have already affected western and northwestern Greece are forecast to strengthen on Thursday night.

On Friday, severe weather will primarily impact the Ionian Islands — including Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca — as well as the regions of Aetolia-Acarnania and Epirus.

Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve from late Friday night into the early hours of Saturday.

Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to take self-protective measures and exercise extreme caution due to the forecasted dangerous weather phenomena.

Civil Protection advises the public to secure or remove any objects that could be swept away by strong winds or heavy rain, and to ensure that gutters and drains are clear and functioning properly. People are warned not to walk or drive through streams or flooded roads and to avoid outdoor activities — particularly near coastal areas — due to the heightened risk of thunderstorms.

During hailstorms, residents are advised to seek shelter immediately and avoid exposed areas, including locations with trees or loose items that could become hazardous.

The public is also urged to follow instructions from local authorities and police officers managing traffic or emergency situations.

Guidelines during intense lightning activity

Indoors:

Avoid handling electrical appliances or using landline phones.

Unplug televisions and avoid contact with metal plumbing.

Inside a vehicle:

Pull over safely away from trees.

Keep windows closed and avoid touching metal surfaces.

Keep hazard lights on and do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

Outdoors:

Seek shelter in a building or vehicle.

If no shelter is available, crouch low with minimal contact with the ground.

Avoid tall isolated trees, open fields, power lines, metal objects, and bodies of water.

Leave the sea immediately.

If your hair stands on end — a warning sign of an imminent lightning strike — drop into a low crouch and discard any metal objects.

Civil Protection continues to monitor the situation and will issue updates as necessary.