“Diomedes” Weather System Brings Snow, Heavy Rain to Greece

The weather system named “Diomedes” brought heavy snow and torrential rain to many parts of Greece on Wednesday, with meteorologists warning that the severe weather will continue on Thursday.

Ships in the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio are docked as a result of strong winds of up to 10 on the Beaufort scale (gale force). The ferry routes Agia Marina-Nea Styra, Kavala-Prinou Thassou and Alexandroupoli-Samothrace remain closed and passengers are advised to contact local port authorities or their travel agents before setting off.

Rain or sleet with snowfall has occurred in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of northern Greece with temperatures ranging from 01C to 06C. Snow will fall in the region of Epirus where temperatures will range between 06C and 10C.

Snow will also fall in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the Attica region, with temperatures between 3 C to 7 C. (37 — 44.6 Fahrenheit) In Thessaloniki, temperatures will be lower, ranging between 1 C to 6 C, while snow is expected.

Diomedes shuts down roads in Macedonia, Thessaly

“Diomedes” which is affecting several areas in central Macedonia since Tuesday has forced the closure of many regional roads, with either snow or heavy rainfall.

The Greek civil protection authorities are on high alert, it was reported on Tuesday evening, while the region has dispatched 100 snow removal machines to keep major roads accessible.

Roads in the regions of Imathia, Pieria and Chalkidiki areas have been closed to traffic, while car tire chains are required on the old Thessaloniki-Veria-Kozani national highway (94-98 km mark) via Kastrania.

Chains are also necessary on the Thessaloniki-Ierissos old national highway (70-85 km mark), while other local roads are also similarly affected by icy conditions.

“Diomedes” is also affecting the entire region of Thessaly and the Sporades Islands, while extremely heavy rainfall over the area of Mt. Pilion has caused significant problems there.

The area near the town of Farsala has been flooded from the heavy rainfall.

According to the National Observatory of Athens/Meteo.gr station at Portaria, 340 mm (13.38 inches) of rainfall was recorded in 16 hours alone, which is equivalent to one year’s rainfall in Athens.