Greece has activated its highest-level "Red Code" emergency alert as a powerful weather system slammed into the country, forcing school closures across the capital and disrupting land and sea transport with gale-force winds and heavy snow.
Schools in the Attica region, including Athens, as well as in the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia, remained closed following a decision by the Risk Assessment Committee.
Authorities replaced in-person classes with remote learning to keep students off treacherous roads.
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis chaired an emergency meeting Tuesday to coordinate the response.
“We are facing a dangerous weather cocktail,” officials warned, urging residents in affected areas to limit travel.
The storm’s impact is divided by geography: heavy snow is blanketing northern and mountainous regions—including Florina and Mount Parnitha near Athens—while violent thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds pummel the south.
The Rio-Antirio bridge, a vital artery connecting the Peloponnese to the mainland, closed to heavy vehicles and motorcycles due to severe gusts.
Meanwhile, high winds triggered sailing bans, grounding ferries from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio. Routes to the Cycladic islands of Andros, Tinos, and Mykonos were suspended, along with services to Zakynthos, Kefalonia, and Kythera.
The National Meteorological Service (EMY) forecast the extreme conditions to persist through Thursday afternoon.
The 112 emergency alert system remains active, and police reiterated that snow chains are mandatory for all vehicles in mountainous networks.