Greece is set to welcome 2026 under bright skies but biting cold, as forecasters predict sunshine will replace recent storms just in time for New Year’s celebrations.
Thodoris Kolydas, former director of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), said the current rainfall will subside by Saturday, giving way to widespread sunshine on Sunday and Monday.
However, the clear skies come with a price: temperatures are forecast to drop 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (2 to 4 Fahrenheit) below seasonal averages.
"The cold snap will be noticeable," Mr. Kolydas warned.
Daytime highs in central Athens are not expected to exceed 10 C (50 F) this weekend, while frost is likely across the northern mainland during early morning hours.
For today, Friday, lingering rain continues to affect eastern Thessaly, Evia, and the Ionian islands, with light snow falling in central and northern mountain ranges.
By Saturday, scattered showers will be confined to eastern and southern regions, including the Cyclades and Crete, while the rest of the country clears up.
Conditions are expected to remain mostly fair through New Year’s Day, offering distinctively crisp weather for holiday events.
However, the respite will be brief: a new severe weather front bringing heavy rain is forecast to sweep across the country starting Jan. 2.