Strong showers cause flooding in Greek capital
Strong showers that hit the Greek capital at intervals from the early hours of Sunday and were expected to persist throughout the day caused flooding on major thoroughfares and in homes and stores.
The section of Pireos Street between Petrou Ralli and Hamosternas was closed off for a few hours midday Sunday as storm drains proved unable to manage downpours that caused extensive flooding, while the turning off Kifissou Avenue into Iera Odos toward Piraeus was also shut off to traffic until around 2 p.m.
The Fire Service reported that it has received dozens of calls to remove trees and branches that had fallen in Patissia, Halandri, Neo Irakleio and Filothei, as well as to pump water from properties on Mount Parnitha, in Kypseli, Nea Smyrni and other Athenian suburbs.
The Hellenic National Meteorological Service warned that heavy showers will continue throughout the day in most parts of Greece, while some flurries of snow are expected on the mountains of central and northern Greece.
Winds on Sunday were coming in from the south at speeds of 6 to 7 Beaufort, strengthening to 8 Beaufort in the Aegean Sea.
Downpours are forecast to continue in Athens and Thessaloniki through Sunday and to start easing off in the early hours of Monday, only to return later in the day.
Similar conditions are expected in most other parts of Greece, though the southern and eastern Aegean will see more heavy showers coming in from the west on Monday.
Temperatures on Sunday are expected to remain at moderate levels with daytime highs ranging between 14-17 degrees Celsius, though a significant drop is forecast on Monday and through Tuesday, starting in the north and gradually spreading south.
