Severe Weather Warning: Greece Prepares for Heavy Rainfall

Severe Weather Warning: Greece Prepares for Heavy Rainfall

The Onset of Severe Weather Phenomenon Elias

The National Meteorological Service of Greece has issued a severe weather warning in light of the approaching severe weather phenomenon Elias. Anticipated to deliver heavy rainfall, the regions marked for the most impact include Thessaly, Epirus, Central Greece, and Northern Peloponnese. Within Thessaly, Karditsa, Trikala, and Magnesia, alongside southern parts of Larissa, are predicted to bear the brunt of the storm. Epirus regions Arta and Preveza, and in Central Greece, Aetolia-Acarnania, Evrytania, Phthiotis, and gradually Phocis and western parts of Boeotia are also expected to be severely impacted. In Northern Peloponnese, the regions of Achaia and western parts of Corinthia are expected to be affected.

Storm Forecast for Wednesday, 27th September 2023

More heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted for central and southern mainland Greece, Thessaly, Central Greece, Peloponnese, Sporades, Evia, western Crete, and possibly intermittently in the western Cyclades, western and southern parts of Attica, and the northern Aegean. The heaviest rain is anticipated in Karditsa, eastern and southern parts of Magnesia, Evrytania, Phthiotis, Phocis, Boeotia, Sporades, and northern Evia.

Storm Forecast for Thursday, 28th September 2023

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted until noon in Sporades, Magnesia, Evia, mainly in the north, Phthiotis, and Boeotia. The phenomena will gradually weaken.

State Mechanism on High Alert

With the wounds from the passage of another storm, Daniel, still open, residents in Thessaly live in anxiety about what bad weather Elias will bring. The state mechanism is on high alert to address any issues that the bad weather may cause in the next period. Issues have already been reported in the mountains of the Municipalities of Pyli and Meteora due to many rock and soil falls. Schools in Thessaly remain closed due to the damage caused by the passage of the storm Daniel.

Collaborative Efforts and Collective Action

The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, is in Larisa to coordinate response efforts. He stressed the need for cooperation among all three bodies to ensure each vulnerable area of the region, each flooded village, each point where problems were created by the last summer’s Daniel, can receive support. He noted that the combination of adverse weather conditions and the burden on the infrastructure across the Region has led to collective action.

Impacts of the Severe Weather System

The severe weather system began to hit the country from Monday afternoon. Strong thunderstorms struck Trikala, Karditsa, and Kalavryta, turning streets into rivers, while heavy rains and hail hit Epirus. In Trikala, problems occurred in the mountains of the Municipalities of Pyli and Meteora as many rock and soil falls have been reported. Once again, residents of the Farkadona area are hit by bad weather. Rock falls occurred in the mountain mass of the Regional Units of Trikala and Karditsa, while provincial roads have been preventively closed.

Storms in Epirus and the Peloponnese

Intense rainfall and hail in the night caused problems on the provincial mountain network of Epirus. Ferrous materials, rock falls, and small landslides are recorded in the mountain villages of Konitsa, Eastern Zagori, Metsovo, and Tzoumerka. The Civil Protection of the Region of Epirus reported that from dawn, 15 machines have been working feverishly to clean the roads. Heavy rainfall is expected to hit areas of Arta and Preveza at noon, and Civil Protection is on alert.

The National Road Patras Athens Opens

A severe hailstorm hit the National Road Patras Athens in the afternoon of Monday, 25/9, causing damage to houses, cars, and crops. The mountain came down on the National Road Patras Corinth with the result that for several hours the traffic was interrupted, which has now been restored. Through bidirectional traffic flow to Patras, traffic continues on a section of the Patras Athens motorway at the height of Aigialeia towards Athens, which has been closed since yesterday afternoon due to mudflows and ferrous materials from burned areas.