Greece woke up dressed in white

Many areas of our country woke up dressed in white today as the snow has been falling continuously since Monday evening in areas of northern Greece, Peloponnisos and Attica, and will continue according to the weather service.

Due to bad weather schools will remain closed in the following prefectures: Florina, Kastoria, Fthiotida, Naousa, Grevena and the mountain regions of Ahaia. In Attica schools will remain closed in Nea and Palaia Penteli, Ekali, Politeia, Halandri, Marousi, Melissia, Thrakomakedones, Kifisia, Nea Erythraia, Dionisos, Hasia, Fili and Oropos.

Problems are also encountered in traffic around Attica as the snow has been falling since yesterday evening, covering many areas with a thick layer. Many areas are also encountering electricity problems, with most of them occurring in Agios Stefanos, Kamatero, Vrilisia, Ano Liosia, Gerakas , Anthousa, Drafi, Doukisis Plakentias and Penteli. Skiathos and Skopelos have been without electricity since Monday night.

Parnitha highway is closed from the funicular railway onwards. Traffic in Pentelis has stopped from the 414th army hospital towards Nea Makri. Dionisos highway is also closed in Aniksi, along with Filis from Kleiston monastery to Dervenohoria and the old Elefsina-Thiva national road.

Traffic is smooth on the Thessaloniki roundabout, while the road from Hortiatis to Agios Vasilis remains closed.

Wheel chains are required for vehicles moving on the provincial road of Griva-Kastaneri-Livadion in the prefecture of Kilkis.

Chains are also required for the roads towards the ski resorts of Kaimaktsalan, Seli and 3-5 Pigadia.  

In Florina prefectures chains are needed throughout the road network due to frost conditions. Chains are also needed on the mountains of Grevena.

Traffic problems are also encountered in the Ahaia road network. Chains are required for the road to Aigio and Diakopto to Kalavrita as well as from Akrata to Zarouhla. Chains are also required in Kalavrita, where snow plows are trying to keep the roads open.

Since 9pm on Monday, snow has been falling continuously in central Peloponnisos.

On the mountains of Korinthia and Arkadia the snowfall is much more intense. The national road network is open and traffic is running normally.

Authorities are requesting that only absolutely necessary movements be made, especially in the night, and that all cars be equipped with car chains.

No ships are leaving for Piraeus or Lavrio or from Rafina to Kiklades.

The weather forecast in detail

According to the data so far, snowfall will decrease today in the west and north, but frost will form locally. Harsh weather will continue until Wednesday in the east and south, even on the islands.

Macedonia, Thrace: There will be local cloud with light transient snow and locally intense frost. Weather phenomena will be temporarily strong until the morning hours in western and central Macedonia. Winds: north northeastern 6-7B, locally 8-9B in the east. Temperature: -5 to 2C.

Ionian islands, Epirus, the western mainland, west Peloponnisos: Cloud will form with snow on mountains and lowland areas of Epirus and the western mainland, with rain or sleet in the rest of the areas. There will be quick improvement in the northwest and gradually the rest of the areas with snowfall limited only to the mountains and lowlands. Strong frost will form locally in the north. Winds: northeastern 5-7 and locally 8B in the Ionian. Temperature: -2 to 8C, up to 3 degrees less in Epirus.

Thessaly, the eastern mainland, Evia, east Peloponnisos: Cloud is forecast,  with snow or sleet in the northern lowlands. The phenomena will be locally strong but will decrease mainly in Thessaly during the afternoon. Winds: north northeastern 7-8 and 9-10B in the east with a gradual decline from the evening. Temperature: -1 to 5C.

Cyclades, Crete: Cloud is predicted with rain and sporadic storms. There will be snow on the mountains of Crete and the northern Cyclades. Gradually and from the north snow will fall in lowland areas of Cyclades and by the night in Crete too. The phenomena will be locally strong. Winds: north 8-9 and locally 10B. Temperature: 4-7C.

East Aegean, Dodecanese: There will be cloud with sleet or snow in east Aegean. Rain and temporary storms will occur, and later in the evening snow will fall even in lowland areas in the Dodecanese. Winds: northeastern in the north 8-10B, northern in the south 7-9B. Temperature: 2-8C, 2-4 degrees less in the north.

Attica: Cloud and snow are predicted in the center of Athens as well. The phenomena will be locally strong in the north, but will decrease from the afternoon. Winds: north northeastern 7-8 and in the east 9-10B but will decrease a bit at night. Temperature: 2-4C, 3 degrees less in the north.

Thessaloniki: Local cloud and frost will form in the morning with chances of light transient snow. Winds: north northeastern 5-7B. Temperature: -2 to 2C.