A severe weather system dubbed "Storm Byron" began pounding Greece on Thursday, bringing torrential rains, gale-force winds, and the threat of widespread flooding to a country still recovering from recent deluges.
Meteorological services warned the system will impact the majority of the country over the next 48 hours. According to the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), conditions are deteriorating rapidly from the southwest, with localized downpours targeting the Ionian Islands, Crete, and the Peloponnese.
By midday Thursday, the storm front is expected to engulf central and eastern mainland Greece, including the Attica region, Evia, and the flood-prone plains of Thessaly.
The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) updated its emergency bulletin to highlight the system's "prolonged duration." Conditions will remain critical through Friday as heavy storms sweep across the Sporades, Cyclades, and the eastern Aegean.
Forecasters warned that winds could reach 9 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean, raising maritime risks.
Specific areas flagged for extreme caution include Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and the southern coast of Crete, where severe hailstorms are anticipated.
Residents in vulnerable zones—particularly in Central Macedonia and eastern Attica—have been urged to limit travel and secure property.
The arrival of Byron marks the latest in a series of intense weather events, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure adaptation across the Mediterranean.