Climate of Greece

Following a dip in temperatures after weeks of unseasonably fair conditions, the weather is set to deteriorate further in the countdown to the New Year.

Greece's National Meteorological Service (EMY) warned on Monday of storms, hail and strong winds which are expected to hit the country as of Tuesday, starting from the western regions.

After several weeks of unseasonably fair weather, conditions are set to deteriorate on Thursday, according to the National Meteorological Service (EMY).
The wet front was set to arrive last night and spread to the Ionian islands, mainland and the Peloponnese on Thursday.

Daytime temperatures in many parts of the country are expected to hit unseasonal highs of 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with the warmest weather forecast in eastern parts of the country and the Aegean islands, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) said on Monday.

A new cold front is forecast to sweep much of the country from Tuesday to Thursday, from the south to the north. 

The Ionian, Crete, the Peloponnese, mainland Greece, Evia and the Cyclades are to see heavy rainfall which is to spread across the Aegean to the Dodecanese and Thessaly by Tuesday night.

Schools will remain closed in Attica on Friday due to the extreme weather conditions expected to affect southern Greece as of Thursday evening, the Regional Authority of Attica said.

The closure will also apply to private schools in the region.

A Mediterranean hurricane heading towards Greece will reach the southern Ionian Sea on Thursday evening instead of Friday, the meteorological service (Meteo) of the Athens National Observatory said on Thursday.

An easing of the annual northerly winds known in Greece as meltemia has led to a rise in sea surface temperatures in the Aegean Sea in July, Kathimerini understands.

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.

The weather will be taking a turn for the worse over the weekend, with a forecast of increased clouds across the country, rains and sporadic storms in Crete and Euboea, as well as rainfalls or isolated storms in places in the eastern and southern regions of mainland Greece, western Macedonia and the Cyclades.