Greece braces for two days of unstable weather with heavy storms and temperature drop

Greece is bracing for a significant shift in weather patterns as atmospheric instability increases, bringing rain and thunderstorms to many regions starting Friday. The most severe weather is anticipated in northern and central Greece, where residents can expect heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and localized hail.

These thunderstorms may also bring temporarily strong winds, known as squalls. Alongside the precipitation, a noticeable drop in temperature is forecast, particularly affecting the western, central, and northern areas of the country. Northern winds are also expected to strengthen, reaching up to 6 to 7 Beaufort in some locations. This unstable weather is predicted to persist through Saturday before gradually improving by Sunday.

On Friday, the weather system will cause temporary changes across the country. Northern and central Greece will see the brunt of the phenomena, with Macedonia experiencing rain and storms from the morning, followed by Epirus and Thessaly from the afternoon. Eastern Sterea will be affected from the evening, and the Sporades and Evia islands are expected to experience the most intense weather late at night. While the phenomena are expected to weaken across most of the country by evening, they will linger in specific areas like Halkidiki, Sporades, and Evia.

Elsewhere, most islands will enjoy generally clear skies with ample sunshine, though the Ionian Islands may see some scattered local showers. Temperatures will fall nationwide, with the most significant decreases felt in the west, center, and north. Highs will generally range from 27 to 29 degrees Celsius, but could reach 30 to 32 degrees Celsius in eastern continental areas, the eastern Aegean islands, the Dodecanese, and Crete.