National Meteorological Service

A new cold weather system, dubbed Okeanis by the National Meteorological Service, is to hit the country on Saturday morning, sending temperatures plunging by more than 10 degrees Celsius in some parts and bringing snowfall to much of the country.

Authorities in northern Greece have been forced to shut down the popular ski report of Falakro, north of Drama, due to concerns that heavy snowfall and high winds in the area may trigger avalanches.

The first snow fell in mountainous regions of Greece on the weekend, as temperatures dropped across the country.

The mountain ranges of Menalo in the Peloponnese, Pilio in Thessaly and Karpenisi in central Greece saw 10 centimeters of snow.

The National Meteorological Service has issued a weather warning for Wednesday (August 15), with heavy rain and storms expected in the northwest of the country, with the possibility of hailstorms and strong winds.

The National Meteorological Service (EMY) on Friday issued a warning that the weather will take a turn for the worse in many parts of Greece over the weekend, with rain, storms and strong winds forecast for much of the country.

On Saturday, the unsettled weather is expected to affect the western mainland, Thessaly, Macedonia and Epirus, moving to the Aegean over the weekend.

The unseasonably good weather is expected to spoil on Saturday when, meteorologists say, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in many parts of the country.

Record low temperatures were measured in Northeast China, TASS reported, citing the National Meteorological Service. Heilongjiang's thermometers showed 44.5 degrees below zero Celsius tonight - a negative record for this winter.

The wave of bad weather that struck much of the country on Wednesday night was expected to have passed by Thursday night, according to meteorologists, though rain and winds were to persist in the southeastern Aegean.

High winds further north, in the Ionian Sea, led on Thursday morning to the suspension of ferry routes between Kyllini, Zakynthos and Kefalonia.

A heat wave that has gripped the country for the past week is expected to start easing Saturday with storms forecast for northern parts over the weekend, according to the National Meteorological Service (EMY).

August holidaymakers will be pleased to be on the beach this weekend, as the national meteorological service has forecast high temperatures in many parts of the country.

According to the HNMS, temperatures will rise up to 41 degrees Celsius on many parts of the Greek mainland, particularly in the west and northwest, as well as in the western Peloponnese.