Greece is grappling with severe winter weather this weekend, prompting urgent weather warnings and affecting transport and daily life across much of the country. Since early Saturday, regions, including the northern suburbs of Athens, have been blanketed with snow. The mountainous areas of the islands of Evia and Lesvos have also reported significant snowfall, with Evia expected to bear the brunt of the adverse weather conditions.
According to the Greek National Meteorological Service (EMY), heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted on the islands of Evia, Sporades, Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Crete, along with heavy snowfall at high altitudes across East Macedonia, Evia, Attica, and Crete. This has resulted in the Greek Civil Protection services being placed on full alert.
An emergency alert was issued on Friday evening, advising residents particularly on Evia to stay indoors. A red alert code was declared for regions such as Central Greece, Attica, East Macedonia, and Thrace, warning inhabitants to remain vigilant due to the expected impacts on routine activities.
To mitigate risks, the Hellenic Police announced strict road traffic measures effective from 10 p.m. on Friday. All vehicles on public highways must now be equipped with snow tires or chains. Heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons have been banned from significant parts of Greece’s road network. This ban includes restrictions on heavy trucks within the Athens metropolitan area which were lifted early Saturday morning, after the hazardous conditions had passed.
The local police directorates have been directed to implement similar measures on other national highways as the weather worsens. Traffic significantly slowed down due to flooding on highways located within Viotia and Evia, demonstrating the breadth of the weather’s impact.
The situation on the roads has caused long queues, particularly as many vehicles were caught unprepared without the required snow tires or chains. Under Greek law, drivers lacking appropriate equipment during such adverse conditions are subject to fines of €80, emphasizing the seriousness with which authorities are treating the situation.
Besides road travel, maritime activities have also been heavily affected, with many ships remaining docked at various Greek ports owing to gale-force winds sweeping the Aegean Sea. EMY cautioned of winds reaching up to 8, and at times 10, on the Beaufort scale. This has led to ferries being unable to set sail from the port of Lavrio, with one ship returning to Rafina port due to the conditions.
Heavy rainfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms began to develop early on Saturday, particularly affecting the Cycladic Islands and the northern parts of Crete. The Dodecanese Islands are expected to be hit by the same conditions later on Saturday afternoon.
With snowfall in higher elevations reported throughout Evia, the islands of the eastern Aegean, northern Cycladic Islands, and Crete, authorities are concerned not just about the immediate hazards but also the longer-term repercussions of the weather. The heavy rains are anticipated to help mitigate the effects of drought conditions observed over the past year.
The peaks surrounding the greater Athens-Piraeus area are covered with snow, and travel to higher elevation areas like Mont Parnes has been halted. This is due to the severe weather making roads treacherous, not only causing traffic interruptions but also adding to the burdens on road maintenance and emergency services.
Previous snowfall incidents have led to motorists becoming stranded, particularly on major tollways. This past week, travel to popular winter destinations like Arachova became problematic, highlighting the compounded obstacles presented when winter weather strikes.
Authorities have been proactive this round, issuing clear guidance for residents, motorists, and travelers to prepare and heed warnings as they navigate through these winter conditions. It is clear from this weekend’s severe weather incidents across Greece, the combined effects of snow, rainfall, and wind create significant challenges for individuals and infrastructure.
