Based on the forecast, the high pressure in the northwestern Balkans combined with low pressure in the Eastern Mediterranean have given rise to gale-force winds and plunged temperatures, with strong rain in southern parts of the country and the islands. Snow is forecast from Thessaly southward. Areas that can expect snow on Tuesday include Thessaly and the Sporades islands, eastern Central Greece (Boeotia, Fthiotida), Evia, Attica, the north and east Peloponnese and Crete. Conditions will start to gradually improve from Tuesday night or even Wednesday. Northerly winds in the Aegean Sea up to 9-10 Beaufort, accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorms, keep ships docked at the ports. Schools in Evia, Boeotia and specific areas in Attica will operate via remote learning.

In particular, as highlighted in the announcement, for special safety reasons in order to avoid causing traffic problems and due to the occurrence of adverse weather conditions, with decisions of the Traffic Police Directorate of Attica and the Police Directorate of Boeotia, will not be allowed to traffic all kinds of heavy vehicles of maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tons, regardless of the use of anti-slip chains from 22: 00΄hour on 28-01-2024 until the phenomena subsides on both traffic streams P. E.E.O. Elefsina - Thebes from the 5th km (REVOIL petrol station - former CYCLON) of Attica to the 34th of E.E.O. Elefsina - Thebes of Boeotia. The following are excluded from the above prohibition: -Road assistance vehicles. -Vehicles carrying salt. -Emergency vehicles. In addition, by decision of the Director of Traffic Police of Attica, from 22:00 on Monday night (29/1), cars of all categories must be equipped with anti-slip chains or other similar anti-slip means, if these vehicles do not have special tires when driving on the entire road network of the prefecture of Attica. Furthermore, due to the imminent outbreak of severe weather phenomena. Snow in the mountains of Evia - Schools will not operate until Wednesday in the Municipality of Mantoudiou - Agia Anna and Limni The snow has made its appearance in the mountains of Evia and it is already snowing since Sunday night in the villages of Seta and Steni, while snowfall will intensify today, Monday and Tuesday. The entire forces of the Region of Central Greece and the municipalities have been put on alert, but so far there are no problems. In "red" alert are also the machines in southern Fthiotida and the municipalities of Kamena Vourla and Lokron, while in Martino have gathered many snowplows to intervene when needed. As announced, schools in the municipality of Mantoudi - Agia Anna and Limni will be closed as a precautionary measure from Monday until Wednesday. It is noted that in cases where face-to-face classes are not held due to bad weather, classes will be held online. As for the other areas of Evia, depending on the extension of the phenomena, decisions will be taken in the morning.   The Risk Assessment Committee for the bad weather meets again today, Monday at 12:00 Professionalism and seriousness from all called yesterday Sunday the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, in view of the bad weather, after the conclusion of successive meetings held in the Civil Protection. Earlier, the Risk Assessment Committee met, followed by an Inter-ministerial Committee meeting on the worsening weather and operational coordination of all stakeholders. Mr. Kikilias advised everyone to be careful and avoid travel in areas that will be affected by bad weather, while he noted that a new meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee will be held today, Monday at 12 noon, where final decisions will be taken on any traffic restrictions. As Mr. Kikilias said, this is a bad weather, which it seems will hit - mainly on Tuesday and possibly from the evening hours of Monday, and may extend to Wednesday - areas of Attica, Attikovoitia, part of Magnesia, Thessaly, Evia and Crete.   EMY: Where there will be snowfall Snowfall in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, Euboea, northern and eastern Peloponnese and from noon onwards in areas of lower altitude. Snowfall will occur in the mountainous areas of the Aegean islands and in the mountainous areas of Crete. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS In the eastern mainland and in the Aegean local rain or sleet and in the sea and coastal areas thunderstorms. From noon onwards, the phenomena will be locally strong mainly in the Sporades, Evia, the Cyclades and Crete. Snowfall will occur in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, Evia, northern and eastern Peloponnese, Crete and in the mountainous areas of the Aegean islands. From noon in Thessaly, Sporades, eastern Sterea, Euboea and eastern and northern Peloponnese, snowfall will intensify and snow will also fall in areas with lower altitude (indicatively 300-400m). In the rest of the country, a few clouds in Macedonia and Thrace where light snowfall will occur. Winds will blow in the west east northeast 3 to 5 Beaufort and in the east north northeast 4 to 6 and in the Aegean 7 and locally 8 Beaufort. The temperature will drop slightly further, mainly in the east. It will range in the central and northern areas from -05 (minus 5) to 08 to 09 degrees Celsius, in the rest of the continent from -02 (minus 2) to 12 degrees and in the islands from 05 to 12 degrees Celsius. In the morning and evening hours in the continental areas there will be frost, which will be strong in the north. MACEDONIA, THRACE Weather. Winds: North northeastern 4 to 6 and in the east locally 7 Beaufort. Temperature: From -03 (minus 3) to 09 degrees Celsius. In western Macedonia 3 to 4 degrees lower. IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIRUS, WESTERN SOLID, WESTERN PELOPONNESE, WESTERN PELOPONNESE. Weather: a few local clouds. Northwestern Greece: Eastern northeastern 3 to 5 Beaufort. Temperature: From -02 (minus 2) to 12 degrees Celsius. In the interior of Epirus 3 to 4 degrees lower. EASTERN SOLIDIA, EUBOEA, EASTERN PELOPONNESE Weather. Snowfall will initially occur in the mountains and semi-mountains, which will intensify from midday and snow will also fall in areas of relatively low altitude (about 300-400m). Winds: North northeast 4 to 6 Beaufort, in the east 7 and gradually up to 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From -02 (minus 2) to 08 degrees Celsius. CYCLADES, CRETE Weather: clouds with local showers and occasional thunderstorms, from noon onwards, occasionally heavy in places. Snowfall will occur in the mountains and in the semi-mountainous areas of Crete (around 600m). Winds: North northeastern 6 to 7 and gradually in places 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From 05 to 10 degrees. EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS - DODECANESE Weather: a few clouds, partly cloudy with local showers and isolated thunderstorms. Snowfall will occur in the mountains of the eastern Aegean islands. Winds: North northeastern 6 to 7 and gradually locally 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From 07 to 12 degrees Celsius. In the north 3 to 4 degrees lower. THESSALY Weather: cloudy with local rain or sleet and in the Sporades sporadic thunderstorms. From noon onwards, the phenomena will be occasionally strong in the Sporades. Snowfall will occur in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, which will intensify from noon and at night snow will also fall in areas of relatively low altitude (about 300-400m). Winds: From northern directions 4 to 6 and in the Sporades up to 7 Beaufort. Temperature: From -03 (minus 3) to 08 degrees Celsius. ATTICA Weather. Snowfall will occur in mountainous and gradually in semi-mountainous areas which will intensify from the evening and at night snow will fall in areas of relatively low altitude (indicatively 300-400m). Winds: North northeast 4 to 6 and in the east 7 Beaufort. Temperature: From 03 to 08 degrees Celsius. THESSALONIKI Weather. Sunny, light breezes: North northwestern 4 to 6 and in the morning up to 7 Beaufort. Temperature: From -01 (minus 1) to 08 degrees Celsius. FORECAST FOR TOMORROW TUESDAY 30-01-2024 In the eastern and southern part of the country, clouds with rain or sleet and in the sea and coastal areas, sporadic thunderstorms mainly in the Sporades, Evia, Cyclades and Crete. Snowfall will occur even in areas with lower altitude in Thessaly, the Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, Evia, eastern and northern Peloponnese, as well as in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the northern and eastern Aegean islands, the Cyclades and Crete. In the rest of the country, a few clouds are forecast for the rest of the country. Winds will blow north northeast, in the west 4 to 6 Beaufort, in the east 6 to 8 and in the Aegean 8 to 9 and locally up to 10 Beaufort. The temperature will remain low and will range in the north from -06 (minus 6) to 09 degrees Celsius, in the rest of the western continent from -03 (minus 3) to 12, in the eastern continent from -03 (minus 3) to 10 and in the island country from 05 to 13 degrees Celsius. In the morning and evening hours on the continents there will be frost, which will be locally heavy in the north.

Winds will blow from north directions 4 to 6 and in the Aegean 7 locally 8 Beaufort with weakening in the evening. The temperature will not change significantly and will reach 10 degrees in the north, 12-14 degrees in the rest of the mainland, the Ionian and the northern Aegean, and 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in the Dodecanese. Frost will be noted in places in the northern and central continental areas in the early morning and evening hours. MACEDONIA, THRACE Weather: Generally clear with sparse clouds from noon in Macedonia and from the evening in Thrace. Winds: Northerly 4 to 6 Beaufort with weakening from the afternoon. Temperature: From -3 (minus 3) to 10 degrees Celsius. In western Macedonia it will be 4 to 6 degrees lower. IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIROS, WEST STEREA, WEST PELOPONNISOS Weather: Generally clear with a few temporary clouds in the Ionian. Winds: Northeast 3 to 5 Beaufort turning from the afternoon to North Northwest with the same intensity. Temperature: From 2 to 14 degrees Celsius. In the interior of Epirus 3 to 4 degrees lower. EASTERN STEREA, EVIA, EASTERN PELOPONNISOS Weather: Generally clear with local clouds in the eastern parts. A few light rains are likely to occur in Evia until midday. Winds: North northeast 4 to 5, in the east 5 to 6 and in Evia 7 and by the afternoon locally up to 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From 0 (zero) to 12 degrees Celsius. CYCLADES, CRETE Weather: Increased clouds with light local rains in Crete. Winds: North northwest 6 to 7 and locally up to 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From 8 to 15 degrees. EAST AEGEAN ISLANDS - DODECANISE Weather: A few local clouds. Winds: From north directions 5 to 6 and on the islands of the eastern Aegean temporary local 7 Beaufort. Temperature: In the islands of the eastern Aegean from 07 to 14 and in the Dodecanese from 12 to 18 degrees Celsius. THESSALY Weather: Generally sunny with a few clouds temporarily increasing. Winds: Variable 3 to 4 and in the Sporades north northeast 4 to 5 and temporary in the morning hours locally up to 6 Beaufort. Temperature: From -2 (minus 2) to 11 degrees Celsius. ATTICA Weather: Generally clear with a few local clouds until noon. Winds: From north directions 4 to 5, to the east 6 to 7 and temporary in the morning hours locally up to 8 Beaufort. Temperature: From 4 to 13 degrees Celsius. THESSALONIKI Weather: Generally clear with sparse clouds from the afternoon. Winds: North northwest 4 to 5 and possibly locally in the morning hours up to 6 Beaufort. Temperature: From 0 (zero) to 10 degrees Celsius.

Throughout Greece, the cancelled sailings include those between the following: Aghia Marina-Styra, Volos-Sporades, Kavala-Prinos on Thassos, Alexandroupolis-Samothrace. The Port Authority said that only the Keramoti-Thassos port schedule for the morning schedule would be carried out. Passengers were asked to call local port authorities or tourist agencies to find out about changes or cancellations. Egnatia Odos Trucks weighing over 3.5 tons (mixed), which had been temporarily banned on Egnatia Odos in northern Greece, would be allowed to travel betwen Polimilos in Kozani and Panagia in Grevena, according to the Western Macedonia General Police Directorate. Also allowed to travel were trucks of the same tonnage along the Egnatia Odos section between Thessaloniki and Serres, and throughout the rural network of Thessaloniki Region. In addition, it was expected that permission would be given for trucks to travel on the vertical road axes of Siatista-Kristallopigi and Kozani-Florina-Niki Customs Station, while they are currently allowed on the Kozani-Larissa National Highway. Snowfall started gradually thinning out early on Sunday, while snow has stopped falling in most lowland regions in Western Macedonia. Thin snow is falling on high elevations in the region (at over 1,200 m sea level). Traffic on Egnatia Odos and on its vertical axes is proceeding as normal. Snow chains or special snow tires are required in a few parts of the rural roads at higher elevations in the regions of Kozani, Florina, Grevena, and Kastoria. The Western Macedonia Region Civil Protection recommended that drivers be particularly alert for icy roads, as the entire region will register temperatures significantly below 0C, and noted that use of snow chains or tires is mandatory in areas affected by snow. Trikala In the Trikala Region, snow reached 10-15 cm at points of higher elevations. According to statements by Regional Deputy Governor Chryssa Didi to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), 40 snow-removal machines are already in operation at areas with snowfall, while she underlined there is no problem in transport. Meanwhile, the northern Greek rural roads of Oreokastro-Melissochori and Xirochori-Prochoma were reopened by Traffic Police on Sunday morning following a shutdown on Saturday night because of snow and ice. The rural road of Chortiatis-Aghios Vassilios was also expected to reopen on Sunday.

In detail, according to the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr, clouds and local rains are expected in the western, southwestern and northeastern continental regions, in the Ionian and in the Eastern Aegean. In the rest of the country there will be clouds at intervals. Dust concentrations in the central and southern regions will be relatively high. Visibility in continental areas will be locally limited until the morning and towards the end of the 24 hours. The temperature in Western Macedonia will range from 0 to 15 degrees Celsius, in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace from 3 to 18, in Thessaly from 4 to 20, in Epirus from 9 to 18, in Western Sterea from 12 to 17, in the rest of Sterea and in the Peloponnese from 7 to 19, in the Ionian Islands from 10 to 17, in the Northern and Eastern Aegean Islands from 13 to 18, in the Cyclades from 14 to 18, in the Dodecanese from 15 to 18 and in Crete from 12 to 24 degrees Celsius . Winds in the Aegean will blow from south to southwest directions 5 to 7 Beaufort and from the morning 3 to 5 Beaufort in the north and 4 to 6 Beaufort in the rest of the Aegean. In the Ionian the winds will blow from southwest to west directions 2 to 4 Beaufort. Intermittent clouds are expected in Attica. Winds will be southwest to west 2 to 4 Beaufort. Dust concentrations in the atmosphere will be relatively high. Visibility will be locally limited until the morning and towards the end of the twenty-four hour period. The temperature in the center of Athens will range from 11 to 18 degrees Celsius. In the prefecture of Thessaloniki, sunshine is expected with a few temporary clouds in places. Winds will blow from variable directions up to 3 Beaufort. Visibility will be locally limited until the morning and towards the end of the twenty-four hour period. The temperature in the center of Thessaloniki will range from 10 to 17 degrees Celsius. Conversely, 13 areas will see snow over the weekend: The weather scene changes rapidly over the weekend, with meteorologists speaking of a deep winter with snow at low altitude and "bitter" cold from Saturday 20/1. In particular, according to meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafillias, snow will fall in 13 areas, which he mentions in his post on social media. These areas are as follows: Kastoria, Kozani, Florina, Edessa, Thessaloniki, riding, Blonde, Alexandroupolis, Lake, Samothrace, Karpenisi, Kalavrita, Trikala Corinthia. According to the meteorologist, snow is also predicted in Attica, from Sunday morning until the afternoon at intervals in the mountains.   The EMY forecast for the weekend Forecast for Saturday 20/1 A change in weather is forecast across the country with increased clouds and local rain. From the afternoon hours, the phenomena in the north and central areas will intensify and there will be sporadic storms in the sea and coastal areas. Snowfall will occur from the afternoon in the northern continental areas in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. The winds will blow from southerly directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort, while in the northern sea sections they will quickly turn to north-northeasterlies and will strengthen, reaching 7 to 8 Beaufort and in the evening hours in the northern Aegean locally 9 Beaufort. The temperature will drop in the north and will not exceed 10 to 13 degrees, while in the central and southern regions it will remain at high levels for the season and is expected to range between 19 and 20 degrees, while in Crete and the Dodecanese it will reach around 22 degrees Celsius. In the evening hours there will be frost in the north. Forecast for Sunday 21/4 Clouds with local rains and sporadic storms in the eastern and southern coastal areas. The weather will show a gradual recession from the afternoon and from the northeast. In the morning hours in the central and northern continental areas there will be snowfall in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, which will gradually weaken. The winds will blow north northeast 6 to 8 and in the Aegean up to 9 Beaufort, and only in the southeast Aegean will initially blow south southeast 5 to 7 Beaufort, but gradually there too they will turn to north with the same intensity. A gradual weakening of the winds is predicted in the west from the afternoon. The temperature will drop noticeably across the country from north to south. Frost will be observed in the morning hours in the northern continental areas and in the evening hours in the rest of the continental areas, while in the northwestern continental areas it will be strong in places.

According to the morning forecast data of the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr, clouds with rain are forecast for today in the central and southern Ionian, Central Greece, Peloponnese and Evia, while local storms will occur in the Cyclades, Crete and possibly the Dodecanese. The phenomena in Crete may be intense in places. Snowfall is initially expected in the mountains of Central Greece and the Peloponnese, gradually in the semi-mountains and from the late afternoon in areas of central Macedonia (Chalkidiki), Thessaly and central Central Greece with low altitude. Tomorrow the main feature of the weather will be snowfall in areas of the eastern country with low altitude. Specifically, from midnight to the morning tomorrow, snowfall is expected in low-altitude areas of Halkidiki, Thessaly (Magnesia), central Sterea (Eurytania, Phthiotida, Phocis and later Boeotia), as well as in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Evia, eastern Sterea and eastern Peloponnese. The snowfall in Magnesia and possibly in central Sterea will be heavy in places. The phenomena will gradually weaken and after noon they will stop. In addition, there will be strong and locally almost gale-force northerly winds in the Aegean from tonight, low temperatures for the season, with their maximum values tomorrow not exceeding 6-8 degrees Celsius in the continental areas, and frost in the northern continental areas in the evenings and early morning hours. * Photo: Map with the estimated cumulative snow depth in centimeters for tomorrow, Saturday 13/01/2024, as calculated by the numerical weather forecast model of meteo.gr / Athens National Observatory.

Cars traveling on Parnitha Avenue will only be allowed as far as the cable car station, authorities said. The snowfall in Attica comes as a double cold spell brings storms, snowfall, gusty winds and a drop in temperature across most of the country, according to the national weather service, EMY. Temperatures in Athens will range from 5 to 11 degrees Celsius. In particular, the first wave is expected Tuesday and Wednesday, while the second will make its appearance on Friday and Saturday and is expected to be more severe. *Photo:  A road in Ippokrateios Politeia, north of Athens, is blanketed in snow on Wednesday, as a weather system dubbed Filippos caused temperatures in much of the country to plummet and brought heavy snowfall. In Attica, police banned trucks from using the Athens-Lamia highway from the Kalyftakis junction upwards and all cars were required to use snow chains. Vehicles were also banned from traveling beyond the cable car terminal on Mount Parnitha. Trucks of more than 3.5 tons, as well as articulated buses, were prohibited from using the Attiki Odos beltway in Athens from 10 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, schools in western and central Macedonia were closed. Schools in parts of north, east and west Attica will also be closed on Thursday. (INTIME NEWS)

As noted in a post by the director of the National Meteorological Service (EMY) Theodoros Kolydas, Tuesday and Wednesday the temperature will fall slightly below normal for the season, while snowfall will occur in hilly areas. With a slight weakening on Wednesday, the bad weather will return on Friday with heavy rainfall.  

Conditions will be generally clear, with localized rain expected mainly in some island areas, particularly in the Ionian islands, western and northeastern parts of the mainland, the eastern Aegean, Cycladic, Dodecanese islands as well as Crete. Visibility in the morning and evening hours will be locally limited and mainly in the western and northern continental areas fog will form in places. Temperatures will reach 17 to 19C in the western, central and northern parts of the mainland and 19 to 21C in the rest of the country.

Moreover, snow will fall in the mountains, while on Saturday (16/12) it will also snow in areas of Northern Greece with low altitude. The drop in temperature will be felt mainly on Saturday, so in the central and northern areas it will drop by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. In detail, according to the National Weather Service's emergency worsening weather bulletin A. Heavy rains and storms are forecast: a) From tomorrow afternoon in the western, central and northern continental areas and gradually in the central and northern Aegean. b) From Saturday morning there will be a recession of the phenomena in the west, but in the eastern country (mainly in the Sporades, Thessaly, Evia, the northeastern Aegean and possibly Halkidiki) the phenomena will remain strong until the afternoon. c) After Saturday afternoon, the strong effects will be limited to the Eastern Aegean and the southern sea-coastal sections, while during the night they will weaken in these areas as well.   B. Snowfall will occur: a) From tomorrow at noon in the mountains of Central and Northern Greece, while in the evening it will also snow in semi-mountainous areas of Macedonia and Thrace. On the night of Friday to Saturday, it will also snow in the mountains of the islands of the Northeast Aegean. b) On Saturday, the snowfall will continue in the mountains, as well as in the semi-mountains of Central and Northern Greece, while in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace it will also snow in low-altitude areas. A reduction in snowfall is expected in the evening hours. C. Gusty northeasterly winds will blow: a) On Saturday initially in the central and northern Aegean and from noon throughout the Aegean 8 and locally 9 Beaufort. b) On Sunday (17/12) the stormy north winds will remain at 8 Beaufort until noon, with a gradual weakening from the afternoon. D. Frost will occur over the weekend in Northern Greece which locally on Sunday in the northwest will be strong.

The highest temperature deviations were observed in the region of Thessaly, the islands of the northern Aegean and in Crete, where the median monthly rates were more 2.5C higher than the normal levels for the time of year. For Thessaly, the Peloponnese, the islands of the Aegean and Crete, it was the hottest November in the last 15 years, while for Central Greece it was the second hottest (+2.1C). It is worth noting that the European record for highest November temperature was recorded in Sisi on Crete, where the maximum temperature reached 35.1C on November 4th. For Athens, the average monthly deviation of maximum temperatures was +2.2C, with 27 of the 30 days of November being warmer than normal for the time of year.

The reason for the change in weather is the southeastward movement of a disturbance in the mid-troposphere from northwestern Europe to the Mediterranean region and the development of a surface low in the central Mediterranean region. In more detail, tomorrow rains and local storms are expected from the early hours of the morning in the Ionian, Epirus, western Sterea, southern Peloponnese, Attica, Evia, Cyclades, southern Crete, the Dodecanese, the eastern and northern islands Aegean and Thrace. Also, possibly heavy rains and storms in the Dodecanese, the islands of the eastern and northeastern Aegean and the northern Ionian, where they are likely to be accompanied by significant amounts of rain. There is a slight chance of small hail in parts of the Ionian and Aegean. South-southeast winds will blow in the seas with intensities of 5-6 Beaufort and locally in the eastern and southeastern Aegean up to 7 Beaufort. Finally, there will be a significant increase in minimum temperatures of 5-7 degrees, due to the prevalence of southerly winds and the transport of warmer gas masses. The rains and storms towards the morning hours of Thursday are likely to intensify temporarily in parts of Thrace. According to the Precipitation Episode Classification (RPI), which is implemented by the Meteo Unit of the National Observatory of Athens, the precipitation episode for tomorrow is classified as Category 3 (Significant).