Heavy rain and thunderstorms threaten to disrupt Christmas festivities across Greece after the National Meteorological Service issued an emergency "orange" alert, warning of a severe weather front peaking today, Christmas Eve.
Forecasters predict the system will batter western Greece, the mainland, and Macedonia before shifting toward the northern and eastern Aegean islands on Christmas Day.
Conditions are expected to improve gradually starting late Thursday.
The bulletin, issued yesterday, indicates the Ionian Islands, Epirus, and the western Peloponnese will bear the brunt of the storm.
As the front moves east, Central Macedonia will face heavy downpours from this afternoon through Christmas afternoon.
"Weather conditions may change rapidly," authorities warned, urging extreme caution for the millions of Greeks traveling for the holidays.
While snow is limited to the mountainous peaks of Epirus and Macedonia, gale-force winds are forecast to sweep the northern Aegean late on Christmas night. Despite the turbulence, temperatures remain unseasonably mild, hovering between 14 C (57 F) and 17 C (63 F) on the mainland and reaching 19 C (66 F) in the islands.
Civil protection agencies are on high alert for potential flooding in vulnerable areas.
The weather service expects the phenomena to subside nationwide by early Friday, allowing for a calmer Boxing Day.