Greece is bracing for severe thunderstorms, hail and strong winds beginning Friday, with meteorologists warning residents to avoid coastal and maritime areas as the weather turns unstable through Saturday morning.
Forecaster Yiannis Kallianos told Mega television's midday news that conditions would deteriorate from midday onward across most of the country.
He said the eastern Peloponnese, central-eastern Sterea Ellada, Evia, the Sporades, Thessaly, Epirus and Macedonia should expect intense storms requiring caution. In Attica, clear skies in the morning will give way to clouds and storms by early afternoon, easing by evening.
Theodoris Kolydas, a meteorologist and former director of the National Meteorological Service, said the worst conditions were expected from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain, strong gusting winds, frequent lightning and the risk of hail. Mr. Kolydas said Central Macedonia, eastern Thessaly, Magnesia, the Sporades, central and northern Evia, Sterea Ellada, Attica and parts of the northeastern Aegean would be hit hardest, and urged anyone with boating, fishing or coastal plans for Friday afternoon or Saturday to postpone.
The National Observatory of Athens' meteo.gr service said hail was likely during the storms' peak in the afternoon, with activity shifting eastward toward the Cyclades and the northern and central Aegean by evening, potentially reaching the Dodecanese overnight.
Temperatures were expected to drop to seasonal norms, with highs near 34°C. Winds could reach up to six on the Beaufort scale in the Ionian and northern Aegean. Conditions should gradually improve late Friday night, with lingering effects in the eastern Aegean into Saturday morning.