Weather to worsen across the country
As Friday afternoon saw a sudden chill descending across the country on strong northerly winds, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service warned that wintry weather is forecast through the weekend and into the beginning of next week.
The worst of Friday?s weather, which will also bring overnight showers and stronger downpours, will be felt in Macedonia, Thessaly, the eastern mainland and Evia, the eastern and southern Peloponnese, the island of the Cyclades and Crete. Meanwhile, some snowfall is also expected on the mountains of central and northern Greece.
Temperatures are expected to dip to lows of 4 degrees Celsius in the north and 10C in the south overnight on Friday, with Saturday seeing average lows of 4C and highs of 10C in the north. In Western Macedonia, meanwhile, temperatures will be up to 4 degrees lower, bringing light snowfall and sleet.
Athens on Saturday will be cloudy, with brief showers in the north and east, strong northeasterlies and temperatures from 7-11C, while in Thessaloniki, the forecast is for sleet and some snow on the highlands, and temperatures from 5-9C.
In western parts of the country, Saturday will bring scattered clouds, strong northeasterly winds of up to 7 Beaufort in the south, and temperatures from 8-16C, while Thessaly, the eastern mainland, Evia and the eastern Peloponnese should expect showers, with sleet at higher altitudes, and temperatures from 6-12C. Showers and occasional storms are forecast for the islands of the northern Aegean, together with low temperatures, while Crete may also see some showers, though temperatures in the general southern Aegean region will average out at between 10-14C and skies will be mostly cloudy, without rain.
Similar conditions are expected to prevail through Sunday and Monday across the country, with winds turning to southerlies early next week and nudging temperatures back up to seasonal levels by Wednesday or Thursday.
