- Heavy rain and storms hit Thessaly, Sporades, and various islands.
- Snow blankets Greece’s northern and central mountains.
- Winds reach 8 Beaufort in the northern Aegean.
- Floods cause chaos in Rhodes and Lemnos.
The weather in Greece took a dramatic turn as heavy rain and storms pummeled various regions. Thessaly, Sporades, the northern and eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese, Cyclades, and southern Peloponnese saw intense rainfall and thunderstorms, while central Macedonia (Halkidiki and Pieria) faced a rough start to the morning. Snow covered higher altitudes in northern and central parts of the country.
Wild Winds and Chilly Temperatures
Strong northeasterly winds up to 8 Beaufort lashed the northern Aegean, adding to the misery. In other areas, moderate 4-6 Beaufort winds prevailed, gradually shifting direction. Temperatures held steady:
- Northern Greece: 12-13°C
- Other regions: 14-16°C
- Cyclades, Crete, Dodecanese: 17-19°C
Morning frost iced over the northwest inland areas.
Flood Havoc in Rhodes and Lemnos
Lemnos Breakdown:
Lemnos bore the brunt of storm damage, where floodwaters turned streets into rivers. Tragically, two lives were lost amid fears the Kontias dam might overflow. Extensive flooding affected homes, roads, and farmland. The unforgiving Greece weather left two people dead and a community on edge as residents faced severe flooding.
- A 57-year-old farmer died after being swept away while using a tractor to free his car.
- A 70-year-old man was found dead in his flooded home; the exact cause is uncertain.
Rhodes Mayhem:
Meanwhile, Rhodes experienced severe flooding. Cars were swept away by roaring waters, prompting a 24-hour travel ban across the island. A collapsed road added to residents’ woes. “This storm doesn’t just rain; it hits you like a freight train,” quipped one frustrated local.
Saturday brought over 16 hours of unrelenting downpours, dumping a staggering 300 mm of rain. For context, that’s 80% of the water Valencia, Spain, battled during its catastrophic late-October floods.
Today’s Regional Forecast
Macedonia & Thrace:
Expect lingering bad weather in central Macedonia (Halkidiki and Pieria), which will ease by evening. Snow continues in the northern mountains.
Winds: Northeasterly 6-8 Beaufort Temperature: Highs around 12°C; western Macedonia will be 4-5°C cooler
Ionian Islands, Epirus, West Greece, West Peloponnese:
Overcast skies with localized rain continue. Storms may strike southern areas, tapering off by evening. Mountain snow remains heavy until noon in Epirus.
Winds: 3-6 Beaufort variable direction Temperature: Peaks at 16°C; inland Epirus is 4-6°C cooler
Eastern Greece & Peloponnese:
Rain and scattered storms persist, with severe downpours in southern areas tapering after sunset. Expect occasional snow in mountainous zones.
Winds: Northeasterly 3-6 Beaufort
Temperature: 8-16°C
Cyclades & Crete:
Showers escalate to strong storms through the afternoon. Rain eases in the Cyclades by night.
Winds: Southwesterly shifting to easterly, 4-5 Beaufort
Temperature: 10-18°C
Aegean Islands & Dodecanese:
Rainstorms pound these islands but should abate in the north by midday.
Winds: Northerly 7-8 Beaufort in the north; southerlies dominate further south
Temperature: 10-19°C; northern islands are up to 5°C cooler
Thessaly:
Rain and thunderstorms linger but weaken by evening. Skiers rejoice—snowfall in the mountains stays thick through midday.
Winds: Northerly 7-8 Beaufort early, decreasing by afternoon
Temperature: 6-13°C
Athens:
The capital will see cloud cover and scattered rain, with storms arriving in the afternoon.
Winds: Northerly 3-5 Beaufort
Temperature: 9-16°C
Thessaloniki:
Rain and occasional lightning dominate the city’s skies. Conditions improve by evening.
Winds: Northerly 7-8 Beaufort, easing later
Temperature: 6-11°C