Greece is facing successive rounds of heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible hail through Tuesday as two low-pressure systems move across the country, with western Greece, Macedonia and the eastern Aegean expected to receive the most intense weather.
The National Observatory of Athens forecast rain and sporadic thunderstorms across mainland, island and sea areas on Saturday, along with temperatures below seasonal norms. Winds in the Ionian were expected to strengthen from the south to as much as 5 Beaufort.
First storm system moves in from the Ionian
The first system was expected to reach western Greece from the Ionian Sea on Saturday evening. Coastal Epirus, western Central Greece and the western Peloponnese were among the areas forecast to see the strongest rain and storms. Hail is possible in Halkidiki, Thasos and Rhodes.
Conditions are expected to spread across much of the country on Sunday. Attica is also expected to receive rain and thunderstorms through Sunday. Current forecasts indicate a gradual improvement in the Athens region on Sunday evening.
A second low is forecast to intensify Monday in Greece
A deeper low-pressure system moving east from Italy is forecast to bring another, more organized round of severe weather on Monday. The largest rainfall totals are expected in western Greece, central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace and along the eastern Aegean from Lesbos to Rhodes. The Cyclades may also see a passage of rain and storms.
Rain is forecast to return to Athens mainly from Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the focus is expected to shift toward central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the eastern Aegean, while snow may fall over mountains in northern Greece. Daytime temperatures in many areas are forecast to remain near 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.
The current forecast extends a damaging spell of weather in Greece. Authorities issued a red weather alert on October 13 before storms flooded Skiathos and Evia. On Rhodes, a man died during flash floods, officials later assessed widespread damage, and the island entered another red-code alert through October 29.
