New cold snap to bring rain and mountain snow to Greece
Greece is bracing for a new, fast-moving weather system from Friday, bringing renewed rainfall, thunderstorms, mountain snow and a sharp drop in temperatures, according to meteorologist Olga Papavgouli.
The latest storm follows days of severe weather that caused flooding and extensive damage in Evia, Rhodes, the Sporades and parts of Attica. Although conditions are gradually improving, a fresh influx of cold air from northeastern Europe is expected to bring an early taste of winter, particularly across eastern mainland Greece and the Aegean islands.
Saturday is forecast to be the coldest day of the week, with temperatures falling to between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius below seasonal averages in some areas.
Record rainfall leaves eastern Greece vulnerable
The previous storm brought exceptionally high rainfall to several regions, with the National Observatory of Athens recording 310 millimeters in parts of Evia and 259 millimeters on Skopelos.
Rhodes recorded locally up to 280 millimeters, equivalent to roughly six months of rainfall for the island, while Ippokrateios Politeia in Attica received 173 millimeters.
Northern winds also reached 10 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts exceeding 100 kilometers per hour.
The low-pressure system responsible for the severe weather has moved eastward, allowing conditions to improve gradually. However, strong northerly winds and lingering showers are expected to persist, particularly in Crete.
On Thursday, sunny intervals will prevail across much of the country, although local showers are forecast in Evia, the mountains of Attica, the Cyclades and the eastern Aegean. Crete will see more persistent rain and isolated thunderstorms, especially in mountainous areas, with conditions expected to improve later in the day.
Temperatures will reach 17–23 degrees Celsius across most regions, while northerly winds will gradually weaken.
Friday brings renewed rain and mountain snow
The temporary improvement will be short-lived, with the next weather system expected to arrive during the second half of Friday and intensify into the evening.
Rain will initially affect eastern and central Macedonia and the northern Aegean before spreading to much of mainland Greece, particularly areas east of the Pindus mountain range, as well as the Sporades and Cyclades.
The heaviest rainfall is expected in eastern Thessaly, Evia, the Sporades and eastern Central Greece. Local showers and thunderstorms are also forecast across parts of the Aegean.
In Attica, rain and showers are expected from the afternoon, becoming more persistent during the evening and overnight.
Meteorologists warn that the new storm could trigger further localized flooding in areas already saturated by the previous rainfall. Evia, the Sporades and southern Halkidiki are among the regions requiring particular attention because the ground may have limited capacity to absorb additional water.
Snow is also expected in the mountains of central and northern Greece, including Mount Parnassus, Mount Olympus and Kaimaktsalan. In northern mountainous areas, snowfall could reach elevations of around 1,200–1,300 meters.
Temperatures will fall, with maximums generally reaching 17–20 degrees Celsius and locally 22 degrees in western Greece. Northerly winds will strengthen to 6–7 Beaufort.
Saturday to bring the coldest conditions
The most intense weather is expected from Friday night through Saturday morning, affecting eastern Thessaly, the Sporades, Evia, eastern Central Greece, Attica, eastern Peloponnese and the Cyclades.
As the low-pressure system moves east and southeast, rainfall will gradually shift toward the Cyclades and eastern Aegean. Conditions are expected to improve across eastern mainland Greece from around midday, although showers and thunderstorms may persist over the southern and eastern seas.
Northerly winds will temporarily strengthen to 7 Beaufort and could reach 8 Beaufort locally in the Cyclades before weakening later in the day.
Saturday will be the coldest day of the week, with maximum temperatures generally ranging from 16–19 degrees Celsius. Local readings in western and southern Greece could reach 20 degrees, while Attica is expected to remain between 16 and 17 degrees.
Snowfall will continue temporarily in the mountains of central and northern Greece and may extend to eastern mountain ranges. The first snowflakes could appear on the higher slopes of Mount Dirfys in Evia during the early hours of Saturday.
Sunshine returns from Sunday
Conditions are expected to improve significantly on Sunday, with extended sunny periods across most of Greece and only isolated weather phenomena in southwestern areas.
Winds will weaken considerably and gradually turn southerly in several regions, although the Dodecanese islands will continue to experience northerly winds of 5–6 Beaufort.
Temperatures will begin to rise slightly, but mornings and evenings will remain chilly.
More settled weather expected early next week
Monday and Tuesday are forecast to bring a more prolonged period of stable weather, with plenty of sunshine and a modest increase in temperatures.
Readings are expected to remain close to or slightly below seasonal averages, marking a clear shift from the unusually warm conditions of previous days.
Authorities and residents in areas affected by the earlier flooding are advised to remain alert as the new storm approaches, particularly where heavy rainfall could increase the risk of further flooding.
Source:ERT
