First snowfall brings winter conditions to mountains
The first snowfall of the season has been recorded in mountain areas across Greece, including Vasilitsa and Samarina in the Grevena region, as a brief spell of severe autumn weather brought snow, heavy rain and unusually low temperatures.
Light snowfall appeared on the peaks and slopes around the Vasilitsa ski resort in the Pindus mountains on Friday, while snow also fell in Samarina, one of Greece’s highest villages at an altitude of approximately 1,450 metres, state broadcaster ERT reported.
Snowfall was also recorded on Mount Parnitha, Mount Parnassus, Pelion, Mount Dirfys and around the Kalavryta ski resort. Other affected areas included Milia near Metsovo and Kotyli in Kastoria, while temperatures at Seli ski resort fell to minus 3 degrees Celsius.
According to ERT meteorologist Olga Papavogli, snow was recorded at elevations of around 1,300 metres and above, with below-zero temperatures in several mountainous areas of northern Greece.
Storms retreat towards the south and east
The weather system is gradually weakening as a low-pressure system moves southeast towards Türkiye.
Rain and local thunderstorms are expected to persist mainly in eastern and southern Greece on Saturday, affecting eastern Thessaly, the Sporades, Evia, eastern mainland Greece, Attica and the eastern Peloponnese before shifting towards the Cyclades, Crete, the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.
The strongest rainfall occurred from Friday evening through the early hours of Saturday, with conditions expected to improve gradually during the day.
In Attica, rain is forecast to ease after midday, with temperatures reaching around 18 degrees Celsius. Northern winds are expected to blow at 5-6 Beaufort before weakening.
Thessaloniki is not expected to experience significant weather disruptions, while rainfall in Halkidiki should gradually subside. Temperatures in the city are forecast to reach approximately 18 degrees Celsius.
Winds could reach 6-7 Beaufort locally, particularly in the Aegean, while the Ionian Sea is expected to experience winds of 5-6 Beaufort.
Temperatures remain below seasonal averages
Temperatures are expected to remain significantly below normal for mid-October, with maximum readings in some areas as much as 8 degrees Celsius below seasonal averages.
Daytime temperatures across much of the country are forecast to reach 16-17 degrees Celsius, rising to around 19 degrees in western Greece and 17-20 degrees across the Aegean, with higher readings in parts of southern Crete.
Sunday is expected to bring more sunshine and gradually improving conditions, although the morning will remain particularly cold. Temperatures could fall into single digits in many areas, with frost and sub-zero readings possible in some northern mountainous locations.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to rise to 19-22 degrees Celsius on Sunday, although isolated showers cannot be ruled out in southern and northeastern parts of the country.
Warmer weather expected from Monday
Conditions are expected to improve further from Monday as high-pressure systems bring more sunshine and warmer air from Africa.
Temperatures are forecast to climb to 19-24 degrees Celsius, while northerly winds could reach up to 5 Beaufort. Eastern regions are expected to remain slightly cooler.
Papavogli said current forecasts do not indicate another widespread severe weather system in the immediate future, although localized rainfall could develop in western Greece towards the end of next week.
The early snowfall offers a first glimpse of winter in Greece’s mountain regions, several weeks before the expected start of the ski season. Whether further snowfall will follow depends on weather conditions in the coming days.
Source:ERT
