Greece is bracing for heavy snowfalls this week as a particularly cold snap will bring low temperatures in two waves starting Wednesday, the country’s National Weather Service (EMY) said in an emergency weather bulletin on Tuesday.
The cold weather event, named Coral, will prevail in the wider region of Southeastern Europe and the Middle East until next Monday.
🎯Η ΓΡΑΦΙΣΤΙΚΗ -ΙΚΟΝΙΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΨΥΧΡΗΣ ΕΙΣΒΟΛΗΣ
✅Mε την βάση τα δεδομένα της #ΕΜΥ σας ετοιμάσαμε ένα βίντεο, το οποίο δείχνει την έντονη ψυχρή εισβολή, τις επόμενες ημέρες στη χώρα μας, η οποία έρχεται σε δύο κύματα.
✅Σήμερα το βράδυ στο Κεντρικό Δελτίο του Star θα παρουσιάσουμε… pic.twitter.com/QpoRqSyCeH— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) February 17, 2025
Temperatures are expected to drop by 3 to 6C from normal February levels in the east Mediterranean country, or 10 to 12 degrees lower than in the previous week.
Snowfall forecast for Attica and even southern Greece
Single-digit temperatures in Celsius were forecast for Attica, the greater Athens-Piraeus area up until Sunday. Snow is possible in parts of Attica, including the Athens basin. Klearchos Marousakis of OPEN TV said there is an 80 percent chance of significant snowfall across Attica from Wednesday night through Thursday morning, lasting until midday Friday.
He cited a combination of low pressure, humidity, and cold temperatures as creating unstable conditions.
In Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly and the islands of the northeastern Aegean temperatures on Wednesday will range from -3 to 7, 8 and 9 degrees Celsius, while in central and eastern Greece, Evia and the eastern Peloponnese from 1 to 11 degrees Celsius. Snow will sweep in gradually from the north and affect elevated areas in those regions, including Crete.
On Thursday and Friday snow is predicted in the rest of Macedonia, and will continue to affect Thessaly, Crete, the northern and eastern Aegean, central Greece, Attica, Evia and the eastern Peloponnese.
Lower-altitude areas may see snow depending on local conditions, however, temperatures might turn any potential snowfall into sleet or rain.
Authorities have issued warnings for drivers and residents in affected areas to prepare for icy roads and disruptions due to snow accumulation. They are also expected to ban road traffic in certain badly affected areas unless vehicles are fitted with snow tires or chains.
The last time Greece was affected by snow long queues were formed in mountainous areas where cars were not equipped with snow tires or chains.
Meanwhile, Greece’s ski resorts are filled with both snow and visitors due to this winter’s favorable weather conditions.
A record number of people have been flocking to the ski resort of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese, on Mount Helmos, surpassing 15,000 a day. A stream of foreign tourists have been visiting Parnassos, Greece’s largest ski resort considered by many the best in the country.
Related: Greece’s Ski Resorts Welcome Record Visitors Amid Heavy Snow