Greece is bracing for extreme weather with significant amounts of rain and snow this weekend, according to the National Meteorological Service, as the weather system named ”Bora” is approaching the country.
Bora is expected to bring a mix of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds to various places across the country.
This weather front is related to a low-pressure system in the Ionian Sea that is gradually migrating eastward, affecting large parts of Greece.
Emergency bulletin warms for extreme weather in Greece
The Greek Meteorological Service has issued an emergency bulletin underlining the potential threats and disruptions that are expected to be caused by this weather system.
The most impacted areas are expected to include central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace, as well as parts of the Ionian islands, Epirus, and western Central Greece.
Heavy rain accompanied by strong thunderstorms is also expected to continue in some areas well into Monday.
Central Macedonia, and more specifically the regional units of Chalkidiki, Thessaloniki, Pieria, and Imathia, are likely to experience exceptionally severe weather from Saturday afternoon to Sunday, including heavy rain and heavy snowfall in higher grounds.
Furthermore, the western and southern Peloponnese in the south of Greece will encounter similar conditions on Saturday.
At the same time, the disaster-stricken Thessaly from the floods of 2023, along with the Sporades and the Eastern Aegean islands as well as the Dodecanese will experience heavy rain from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning.
The eastern region of Central Greece, encompassing Athens and the surrounding areas and Euboea (Evia) is also expected to get heavy rain from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.
From Saturday midday until Sunday, Western Crete and the Cyclades are expected to see severe weather conditions as well, making storm Bora a widespread threat for major disruptions across the country.
Aside from precipitation, gale-force winds are a big issue that are expected to affect transportation.
East-northeast winds of 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale are forecast to blow across central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace from Saturday afternoon to late Sunday afternoon. These winds pose a risk to maritime activities, potentially causing power outages or building damage, so caution is advised.
Furthermore, considerable snowfall is expected in Macedonia and Epirus mountains from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. This might result in hazardous travel conditions and possible road closures on mountains across western and northern Greece.
Greece’s National Meteorological Service advises citizens to be cautious and get informed by the latest bulletins as conditions change.
