Greece Braces for Severe Winter Weather: Gale-Force Winds and Heavy Snow Expected

The next 48 hours are set to bring a sharp intensification of winter weather across Greece, with temperatures remaining low and biting winds making conditions feel even colder.

Severe weather is forecast for Tuesday, January 20th and Wednesday, the 21st, bringing extreme phenomena to several regions. While conditions are expected to subside starting Thursday, rain and sporadic storms will persist in the west and the Aegean.

Meteorologists highlight that the current atmospheric circulation points to a long and persistent winter, characterized by successive weather disturbances rather than brief extreme events.

Winter weather in Greece: Destructive winds and flooding

According to ERT meteorologist Nikoleta Ziakopoulou, the precursor to this front will be “sweeping” gale-force winds reaching 9-10 on the Beaufort scale (100 km/h). There is a significant risk of damage in the Kythera Sea, southern Peloponnese, Messinia, and Laconia.

While Tuesday’s rainfall and snow are expected to be manageable, Wednesday is considered the “critical day.” Potentially dangerous phenomena include:

• Severe flooding risk: This could be the case particularly in the southern Ionian, Peloponnese, Evia, and the Aegean.
• Attica alert: Residents in Athens and the surrounding Attica basin should exercise extreme caution as heavy rainfall poses a high risk of urban flooding.
• Heavy snowfall: Dense snow is expected in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions, as well as in major cities across Macedonia.

The Director of the National Meteorological Service, Thodoris Kolydas, noted that an organized low-pressure system moving from Tunisia is the primary driver of this weather deterioration. While western regions of Greece and Thrace may initially experience brief clear intervals, the rest of the country will face widespread cloud coverage, sleet, and snowfall.

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