New year begins with frost, local snow and gradual weather deterioration
The New Year is starting with cold weather across the country, as frost is expected during the early morning and evening hours on the mainland, becoming locally strong in northern regions.
In the greater Athens area, cloud cover will temporarily increase during the early hours, bringing isolated showers. Light snowfall is possible in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas and locally at elevations of around 350 to 400 meters, followed by a rapid clearing of conditions. Temperatures in Athens are forecast to range between 2 and 9 degrees Celsius, with values 2 to 3 degrees lower in the northern suburbs.
Thessaloniki is expected to experience generally clear weather throughout the day. North to northwest winds will gradually weaken, becoming variable and light from midday. Temperatures in the city will range from minus 3 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Elsewhere, mostly clear conditions are forecast in western and northern parts of the country. Temporary cloudiness is expected until the early morning hours in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and eastern Chalkidiki, where sleet and light snowfall may occur even at low elevations of 300 to 350 meters, before conditions quickly improve.
In other regions, periods of cloudiness will be accompanied by local showers, sleet in northern areas and temporary snowfall in mountainous and semi-mountainous zones. Most weather phenomena are expected to subside after midday, with showers persisting only in Crete until the evening.
Temperatures will remain low nationwide, with a slight further drop mainly in southern areas. Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 5 to 6 degrees Celsius in northern regions, 7 to 10 degrees in the eastern mainland and 11 to 13 degrees in the rest of the country, locally rising to 14 degrees in southern Crete and the Dodecanese.
FRIDAY
Looking ahead, Friday will begin with mostly clear skies before cloud cover increases in the west. From midday, rain is expected in the northern Ionian and Epirus, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms in the Ionian, spreading to western areas by evening. Snowfall is forecast to develop in mountainous regions later in the day.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected in western areas, with local rainfall elsewhere. On Sunday, periods of increased cloudiness and local rain are forecast, mainly affecting the west, the eastern Aegean and Thrace.
