Greece will get only a brief break from severe weather on Friday before another round of storms hits over the weekend, followed by a sharp temperature drop and possible snowfall — even in low-lying areas — early next week, forecasters said.
The latest bout of bad weather battered western Greece and Epirus, causing flooding, wind damage and disruptions after periods of intense rainfall and gale-force winds.
Conditions are expected to ease temporarily on Friday, but meteorologists warn the respite will be short-lived.
According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, storms will return on Saturday with similar intensity. Powerful southerly winds reaching 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale and very heavy rainfall are forecast, particularly in western Greece, which has already been heavily affected.
Temperatures are expected to start falling on Sunday.
A strong cold front is forecast to arrive Monday and Tuesday, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures and snowfall, potentially extending beyond mountainous regions to lower elevations.
For Friday, the weather service forecasts increased cloud cover over the eastern and southern Aegean, with local rain and isolated thunderstorms in the southeast, followed by rapid improvement.
Western Greece will see increasing cloudiness and local rain from midday. Elsewhere, conditions will be mostly fair, with temporary clouds developing over mainland areas later in the day.
Northwesterly winds will blow at 5 to 6 Beaufort, reaching 7 to 8 in parts of the Aegean before easing. Temperatures will remain subdued, reaching no more than 11 degrees Celsius (52°F) in northern mainland areas, 14 to 15 degrees in the Dodecanese, and around 16 degrees elsewhere.
On Saturday, cloud cover will increase across western and northern Greece and the eastern Aegean, bringing rain and scattered thunderstorms.
Snowfall is expected in mountainous mainland regions and in lower-altitude areas of northwestern Greece.
Authorities are urging residents, especially in storm-hit regions, to remain alert as conditions are expected to deteriorate again and winter weather tightens its grip on the country.