Greece Braces for Severe Weather System Dubbed “Carmel”

Meteorologists in Greece are warning that a severe weather system dubbed “Carmel” will hit the country starting late on Thursday and last through the weekend.

According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), the front will bring heavy rainstorms and snowfall to the central and southern parts of the country, as well as gale-force winds.

The name, which was given in conjunction with the Israeli meteorological service, refers to the city which is mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Samuel and also in Joshua.

The EMY says that the severe weather will affect the southeastern Mediterranean in the coming days. It forecasts that the worst days will be Saturday and Sunday.

Heavy rains and thunderstorms will affect:

• The islands of the northern and eastern Aegean on Saturday morning.
• Sporades, Evia, the eastern parts of Thessaly as well as the eastern Sterea, from the morning hours of Saturday until noon on Sunday.
• Eastern Peloponnese and the Cyclades from the afternoon hours of Saturday until Sunday morning.
• Northern Crete from Saturday night until Monday morning.

Snow expected even at lower altitudes

Snowfall will occur initially in the mountains of the mainland and spread gradually into Crete. The snowfall will be heavier in the mountains of Thessaly, eastern Sterea, Evia, and the eastern Peloponnese while areas with lower altitudes will be gradually affected (indicative altitude 600-900 meters, up to 2,952 feet).

There is a strong possibility that snow will also fall in Attica on Saturday.

The EMY also warns of strong northeast winds in the Aegean that in the evening hours of Saturday could reach 9 Beaufort (up to 51 mph).

Δείτε όλο το κύμα της κακοκαιρίας #Carmel που θα επηρεάσει την ΝΑ Ευρώπη με μεγάλα ύψη βροχής, παρατεταμένες και ταυτόχρονα έντονες καταιγίδες, σφοδρούς άνεμους και σημαντικό ύψος κύματος
ΤΟ ΕΚΤΑΚΤΟ : https://t.co/kVMX7zGWr1 pic.twitter.com/O828xA0Pv1

— KolydasΤ (@KolydasT) December 16, 2021

Emergency services on high alert for the extreme weather

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection says it has warned emergency services, as well as local authorities, to be on increased alert in order to deal immediately with the effects of the severe weather.

It also advises citizens to be very careful, and avoid unnecessary travel.

In late November another severe storm claimed one life and caused widespread destruction in buildings and agricultural fields in western Peloponnese.

A man died when his car was carried away by floodwaters in Vrachnas, northern Ilia.

Last week, a woman was killed as her car got caught amidst the rushing waters of the Zliana River in Katerini, Macedonia, following heavy rains.