Greece’s national weather service (EMY) warned of dangerous weather phenomena with storms and possible flooding starting on Monday evening and lasting until Wednesday.
A low-pressure system that has formed in the western Mediterranean is driving the Atena weather phenomenon, which is now moving eastward. This system is expected to bring severe storms and heavy rainfall to various parts of Greece, particularly affecting the western, central, and northern regions of mainland Greece, as well as the northern and eastern Aegean islands.
The adverse weather will include frequent lightning, hail, and strong gusty winds, posing risks of localized flooding.
More specifically, according to EMY, the storm will initially hit the Ionian islands, Epirus, western Central Greece, and western Peloponnese from Monday night through Tuesday afternoon.
By Tuesday morning, the severe weather is expected to spread to Western Macedonia, Thessaly, and eastern Central Greece, where intense rainfall and thunderstorms are likely.
As the day progresses into the afternoon and evening, Central and Western Macedonia, as well as the Sporades islands, will experience the storm’s effects.
Finally, by Wednesday morning, Thrace and the northern and eastern Aegean islands will be impacted by the worst of the weather, with thunderstorms and strong winds expected to continue into the afternoon.
Greece advises citizens on the upcoming storms
Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay informed about the latest weather developments and take necessary precautions.
Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Citizen Protection advised the citizens to be extra careful during the next 62 hours. “Based on the extensive briefing of the Risk Assessment Committee and according to the EMY bulletin, from tonight evening and for the next few days dangerous weather phenomena will occur in many areas of the country”, he said.
He also pointed out that the Atena weather phenomenon does not constitute “summer instability, but an autumnal system…Practically, this means that the bad weather will last longer, so local flooding is not ruled out”, he underlined.
A year ago Greece suffered from flooding in Thessaly
Last September Greece suffered one of the most extreme weather phenomena when deadly floods devastated a large part of the country, especially the central region of Thessaly.
Storm Daniel, also known as Cyclone Daniel, was the deadliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in recorded history, as well as one of the costliest tropical cyclones on record outside of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Severe rainfall led to flooding that caused more than two billion euros in damage, making it the most costly recorded storm for the country.
The storm turned many villages in the low-lying area of Karditsa, in the mainland Thessaly plain, into a lake. Towns and villages affected were Palamas, Proastio, Agia Triada, Megala Kalyvia and Kalogriana which were blocked from water.