Weather authorities sounded the alarm on Tuesday, as heavy rain, thunderstorms and gale-force winds threaten flooding and coastal damage in western parts of the country.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection said heightened readiness applies to the Peloponnese, Western Greece, the Ionian Islands and Epirus, where the risk of flooding is elevated. Forecasters warned that intense downpours and storms would hit Epirus and western Central Greece through the afternoon, followed by western and southern Peloponnese, parts of Crete – mainly the west and south – the southern Cyclades, and later the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese.
Winds over the Ionian Sea and western mainland coasts are expected to reach 7-8 Beaufort, shifting northwest later and strengthening to 9-10 Beaufort. Similar strong winds are forecast for Crete, the Cyclades and southeastern Peloponnese.
Snowfall is expected in mainland mountain areas, briefly heavy in parts of Epirus and Macedonia. Temperatures will fall, especially in the north and west, with frost possible overnight in northwestern inland regions.
Conditions are forecast to gradually improve in many areas from Wednesday afternoon.