Storm Chandra And Greek Weather Alerts Bring Chaos

As January draws to a close, a series of powerful storms are battering southern Europe and the United Kingdom, sending authorities scrambling to warn residents and shore up defenses against severe weather. Both Greece and the UK are facing intense rain, gale-force winds, and widespread travel disruptions, with meteorological services issuing their highest-level alerts for many regions. The timing and intensity of these storms have left communities already reeling from earlier winter weather with little respite to recover.

In Greece, authorities placed vast swathes of the country under an orange weather alert on Monday, January 26, 2026, as a potent weather system swept in from the west. According to the National Observatory of Athens and Meteo.gr, the system brought heavy rainfall, strong thunderstorms, and gale-force southerly winds across Western Greece, Central and Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the Aegean islands, Crete, and Attica. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service categorized the event as Category 3 (Significant) on the Rainfall Episode Categorisation (RPI) scale, warning of locally intense phenomena that could include hailstorms in the southern and eastern Aegean islands, as well as parts of northeastern Peloponnese and southern Attica.

Officials were especially concerned for Attica, home to the capital Athens, where recent infrastructure damage and a weakened road network heightened the risk of flooding and travel disruption. While meteorologists did not expect the most extreme phenomena in Attica, heavy showers were likely during the morning and midday hours on Monday. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection placed areas recently affected by flooding—such as Glyfada and Vari—on heightened alert, and the Risk Assessment Committee scheduled an emergency meeting to assess the evolving threat. As a precaution, the National Crisis Management and Operations Coordination Centre contacted local authorities and agencies to ensure full preparedness and operational readiness, as reported by Greek City Times.

Elsewhere in Greece, the situation was even more acute. Civil protection authorities placed six regions in northern and northeastern Greece under a "Red Code" emergency mobilization due to the high risk of flooding. Local and regional officials were instructed to activate emergency coordination units and review readiness plans, a decision made after risk assessment meetings involving meteorologists and disaster management leaders. Ferry services from Greece’s main port were canceled due to gale-force southerly winds dominating the Aegean Sea, with gusts reaching up to 9 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean by midday Monday. Additional ferry routes in other coastal areas were suspended, further complicating travel for residents and tourists alike.

As the storm system moved across the country, the worst of the weather was expected to gradually subside. Meteorologists forecast a brief improvement in conditions by Tuesday, January 27, although thunderstorms were set to persist in the southeastern Aegean. Temperatures dipped slightly, with daytime highs in the low to mid-teens Celsius, and snowfall was reported in higher elevations in central and northern Greece. Dust in the atmosphere and fog further reduced visibility during early morning and nighttime hours. Looking ahead, authorities warned that after a short lull, another round of rain was likely to approach western Greece by midweek.

Greek officials urged the public to remain cautious, limit unnecessary travel during the worst of the weather, and follow all official guidance as conditions evolved. "Authorities remain on alert due to recent infrastructure damage and a weakened road network," the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection confirmed, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of many communities.

Meanwhile, the UK braced for its own onslaught as Storm Chandra—named by the UK Met Office—was forecast to hit on Tuesday, January 27. Chandra is the third major storm to strike the UK in January, following closely after Goretti and Ingrid, which had already caused significant damage and disruption earlier in the month. The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for eastern parts of Northern Ireland, with damaging gusts expected to reach up to 75 mph (120 km/h) from 5:00 to 21:00 on Tuesday. An amber rain warning was also in effect for south-west England from late Monday into Tuesday morning, with 30-50 mm of rainfall likely and up to 80 mm possible on higher ground, especially in south Dartmoor.

Yellow warnings—the least severe but still significant—blanketed much of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Wales, central southern England, London, and the south-east. These warnings covered persistent rain, flood risks, strong winds, and even snow, with up to 5 cm expected on hills around 300 meters and as much as 20 cm above 500 meters in parts of Scotland. BBC News reported that much of the region had already experienced a very wet January, increasing the risk that additional rainfall would lead to flooding. The Met Office warned that the ground was saturated, rivers were swollen, and the risk of landslides and further damage to infrastructure was high. Disruptions to air, sea, and rail travel were expected, along with the possibility of power outages and some communities being cut off by flooded roads.

The UK’s storm-naming system, coordinated by the Met Office in partnership with Ireland’s Met Éireann and the Netherlands’ KNMI, designates a name when a storm is forecast to cause "medium" or "high" impacts. Chandra follows Amy and Bram, the first two storms of the 2025/26 season, which began in October. The Met Office explained, "Wind is the main factor for naming a storm, but sometimes rain or snow are taken into account as part of the process." The naming system aims to raise public awareness and encourage timely preparations for dangerous weather events.

With little time between storms for water to drain away and rivers to recover, the cumulative impact of this relentless wet weather has been severe. BBC News noted that structures and trees weakened by previous storms are now more vulnerable to damage, and further rainfall could easily overwhelm already-stressed flood defenses. The risk of landslides, particularly in prone locations, is also elevated as the ground remains saturated and unstable.

As both Greece and the UK confront the latest in a string of powerful winter storms, authorities are urging vigilance and caution. The challenges are compounded by the rapid succession of severe weather systems, leaving little chance for affected areas to recover before the next round arrives. Officials in both countries are relying on emergency coordination, public alerts, and the cooperation of residents to minimize the damage and keep communities safe.

For now, the message from meteorologists and civil protection agencies is clear: stay informed, heed official warnings, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions as Europe’s stormy winter shows no sign of letting up.