Storm Adel batters Greece with torrential rain and ‘Red Code’ alerts
A powerful weather system named Adel swept across Greece on Friday, unleashing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and frequent lightning, with Athens experiencing intense downpours from the early morning hours. Several streets in the capital were flooded, creating dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians as authorities urged the public to remain cautious.
Meteorologists warned of a heightened risk of large hail across Attica, noting that Friday’s rainfall reached category 4 severity — classified as “very significant.”
In northern Greece, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace were already being hit by strong storms early in the day. The system was forecast to move into Halkidiki, Serres, Kilkis and Thessaloniki by later in the afternoon. Heavy rainfall was also expected to continue in the Ionian Islands and parts of the Peloponnese, while the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese were predicted to face the most intense conditions from midday through the night.
Forecasters described a “double wave” of severe weather for Attica, with one round of storms overnight followed by another after sunrise. Eastern Macedonia and Thrace were also expected to see worsening conditions, with particular concern for the islands of Chios, Samos and Ikaria. By late Friday evening, the system was projected to shift its strongest impact toward the Dodecanese, where it was expected to remain severe until midday Saturday before gradually weakening.
The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection issued a “red code” alert — its highest warning level — for Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the Northern Aegean and the Dodecanese. Several other regions, including the Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Greece, the Peloponnese and Central Macedonia, were placed on heightened readiness.
Civil protection authorities activated emergency coordination centers and remained in close communication with local officials, while regional councils convened to prepare rapid-response measures should conditions worsen.
