Greece's National Weather Service (EMY) has issued an urgent alert warning of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, including possible torrential downpours, across much of the mainland this Sunday. Snow is expected to blanket the highlands in the western, central, and northern regions, with lower-altitude snowfall also predicted in northern Greece.
The approaching low-pressure system is anticipated to bring a significant drop in temperatures nationwide, following a period of unusually warm weather. Northeasterly winds, reaching up to 9 on the Beaufort scale, are also expected to impact the central and northern Aegean, potentially disrupting coastal shipping.
Rain will spread across much of the mainland, including the Athens-Piraeus area. While the expected precipitation is welcomed after a dry year, the swift onset of intense weather events poses challenges in areas with inadequate infrastructure. The severe storm in early September 2023, for example, caused prolonged flooding in Thessaly, Greece's agricultural heartland.
