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🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Greece Hit by Severe Weather: Over 55,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • A severe weather event on Friday brought heavy rainfall and over 55,000 lightning strikes to Greece.
  • The highest rainfall was recorded in Thessaly, Stereá Elláda, and parts of the Peloponnese, Epirus, and Macedonia.
  • The phenomena are moving east, expected to affect the Aegean islands with weakening intensity.

Greece experienced a significant weather event on Friday, characterized by intense rainfall and a remarkable number of lightning strikes. Meteorological data from the National Observatory of Athens' meteo service revealed that central and northern mainland Greece bore the brunt of the storms.

The heaviest rainfall was concentrated in Thessaly, Stereá Elláda (including Euboea and Attica), and parts of the Peloponnese, Epirus, and Macedonia, with Halkidiki particularly affected. Paleochori, Fthiotida, recorded the highest rainfall at 40.2 millimeters by 8 PM.

Satellite data from EUMETSAT indicated over 55,000 electrical discharges across Greece by 7:50 PM, with approximately half occurring over land. The weather system is now shifting eastward, with forecasts predicting it will impact the central and northern Aegean islands during Friday evening, though a significant weakening is expected.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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