Greece is bracing for two waves of severe weather this weekend, but meteorologists said Saturday that the 42nd Athens Authentic Marathon will be spared, with dry and mild conditions expected for Sunday's race.
According to meteorologist Georgios Tsatrafyllias, two low-pressure systems from Italy are bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to western and northern Greece on Saturday and Sunday.
However, the Attica region, where the marathon takes place, will not be affected.
“Runners will have the weather on their side,” Mr. Tsatrafyllias noted, adding that no rain is expected along the historic route on Sunday, Nov. 9.
The first storm system was impacting western regions on Saturday, and a second is expected to follow on Sunday into Monday.
Forecasters warn of potential localized flooding in western Greece, as the prolonged rainfall may oversaturate the soil.
Strong southerly winds of 6-7 Beaufort are also expected, carrying some dust from North Africa toward the southern parts of the country.
Despite the nearby storms, the weather for the marathon itself is forecast to be ideal. Temperatures will remain stable and mild, ranging between 17°C and 22°C (63°F and 72°F). With calm skies, runners and spectators can look forward to favorable conditions for the race from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium.