A powerful weather system is set to bring severe storms and disruptive conditions across Greece on Sunday, February 1, marking sharp nationwide deterioration with seven regions placed under a Red Code alert. Prolonged heavy rain and frequent thunderstorms will affect large areas, increasing the risk of local flooding, hazardous driving conditions, and transport disruption.
The system will begin to weaken early on Monday as it gradually shifts to the southeast. Unsettled weather will then be largely confined to the Dodecanese and Crete, where periods of rain and storms will persist, while conditions across the rest of the country steadily improve as the disturbance moves away.
Red code alert for severe storms across Greece
Because of the expected impact, Greek Civil Protection has placed seven regions under the highest alert level, known as Red Code. This designation is used when dangerous weather is forecast to last for many hours and affect extensive areas.
Alongside the downpours, strong to near-gale force winds of 8 to 9 Beaufort (39 to 54 miles per hour (mph)) are expected in several regions, especially along coasts and at sea. The most intense storm cells may also generate short bursts of hail.
Red code alert status applies to:
- Peloponnese
- Thessaly, including the Sporades
- Achaea
- Elis (or Ilia)
- Pieria
- Imathia
- Chalkidiki
Snow in mountainous and northern areas
Winter conditions will develop at higher elevations across the mainland. Mountain ranges are likely to receive steady snowfall, while colder air arriving later in the day could allow snow to reach lower altitudes in parts of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, even outside the highest peaks.
How the storm will unfold on Sunday
From the early morning hours, severe weather will spread across the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands, especially Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, and Zakynthos.
At the same time, powerful rain bands will move through eastern Thessaly, including Larissa and Magnesia, and across western Thessaly around Karditsa and Trikala. Areas of Central Macedonia under red code will also see repeated rounds of storms throughout the day.
Through the morning into midday, intense rainfall will push into Epirus and western parts of Central Greece. Further south, western and southern Crete will be affected from early in the day, with unsettled conditions persisting for many hours.
By midday and into the afternoon, the zone of heaviest weather will extend eastward, bringing heavy rain to Attica, Evia, and the rest of Central Macedonia. Later in the day, the most active storms will shift toward the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.
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