Urgent meeting by Civil Protection ahead of upcoming severe weather – The planned response

Civil Protection is on high alert and has developed an immediate response plan in anticipation of the severe weather that will affect the country until Saturday.

Specifically, as announced by the responsible authority, after the issuance of the emergency weather deterioration bulletin by the National Meteorological Service (EMY), the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, convened the Scientific Committee for Risk Assessment. Following this, he held a Coordinating Meeting with the participation of representatives from relevant Ministries, Regions, Security Forces, and the Armed Forces.

Although the EMY’s emergency bulletin mentions weather deterioration rather than dangerous weather phenomena, and the Risk Assessment Committee advised the General Secretariat of Civil Protection that, according to current scientific data, there is no need to issue 112 alerts, Vasilis Kikilias emphasized during the Coordinating Meeting that due to the dynamic nature of the phenomenon, which may locally intensify and escalate, the following measures should be taken:

1. Relevant authorities must immediately inform the Unified Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management (ESKEDIK) of any local flooding incidents (e.g., road flooding, river overflows, etc.), so that if necessary, 112 alerts can be issued promptly.
2. The Fire Department and the Armed Forces should be on operational readiness, and the Hellenic Police should issue local traffic regulations.
3. In areas with a history of flooding, local authorities should continuously monitor the situation, as problems may reoccur. Particularly in these areas, local governments should take all necessary actions to prevent flooding (e.g., clearing drains).
4. In areas with intense lightning activity, immediate updates should be provided so that all necessary actions can be taken to protect citizens (e.g., advising against going to beaches, postponing events, etc.).

The EMY’s Emergency Bulletin

The EMY issued an emergency weather deterioration bulletin from Thursday afternoon until Saturday.

According to the forecast, today strong rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by frequent lightning and localized hail, will affect Epirus, Central Greece (mainly western parts), the Peloponnese (western and central parts), and Central Macedonia (mainly Halkidiki).

On Friday morning, the severe weather is expected to impact the Ionian Islands, and from midday, Epirus, the Peloponnese, Central Greece (mainly central and eastern parts, including Attica), Euboea, the Sporades, Thessaly, Central Macedonia (mainly Halkidiki), and Eastern Macedonia.

On Saturday, the phenomena will affect Thessaly, the Sporades, Euboea in the morning, and from midday Epirus, Central Greece (including Attica), and the Peloponnese.

The detailed emergency bulletin states:

“Cold and unstable air masses in the upper atmosphere will cover our country over the next three days, causing a weather deterioration from today, Thursday (29-08-24), until Saturday (31-08-24) over most of the mainland, with strong rains and thunderstorms accompanied by frequent lightning and localized hail. Temporarily, the phenomena will be accompanied by very strong winds (squalls).

DETAILED INFORMATION

A. Today, Thursday (29-08-24)

1. During the midday and afternoon hours, the mainland will be affected, especially Epirus, Central Greece (mainly western parts), the Peloponnese (western and central parts), and Central Macedonia (mainly Halkidiki).

B. Tomorrow, Friday (30-08-24)

1. In the morning, the Ionian Islands.
2. From midday until evening, Epirus, the Peloponnese, Central Greece (mainly central and eastern parts, including Attica), Euboea, the Sporades, Thessaly, Central Macedonia (mainly Halkidiki), and Eastern Macedonia.

C. The day after tomorrow, Saturday (31-08-24)

1. In the morning, Thessaly, the Sporades, and Euboea.
2. During the midday and afternoon hours, Epirus, Central Greece (including Attica), and the Peloponnese.

For more details on weather developments, refer to the regular and emergency weather bulletins on the EMY website (www.emy.gr). Forecast updates will be provided every 12 hours.”

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