According to preliminary meteorological data analysed by the scientific team at the National Observatory of Athens and meteo.gr, the winter of 2025–2026 was the second warmest in Greece since 1960. The only winter to record higher average temperatures remains the winter of 2023–2024.
December 2025 to February 2026 in Greece was characterised by prolonged periods of exceptionally mild conditions. Researchers observed that for 78 days—accounting for 86% of the winter season—temperatures remained consistently above the 1991–2020 average. Greece experienced only a few brief intervals of typical winter cold, primarily between early and mid-January 2026.
Average Winter Temperatures (December, January, February) | Image Credit: Meteo.gr
According to the data, the average winter temperature in Greece has risen by 1.8 °C (3.24 °F) since 1960. Furthermore, four of the warmest winters ever recorded in the country have occurred within just the last six years.
Despite the unusually high temperatures, the this year’s winter in Greece was not exceptionally dry. In fact, it ranked as one of the wettest on record in terms of overall precipitation.
However, because of the prevailing mild conditions, snow cover across Greece’s mountainous regions dropped to drastically low levels. Experts note though that this combination of heavy rainfall and minimal snowfall creates a challenge for mountain ecosystems, as they are deprived of their natural water storage mechanism.