Snow and bitter cold throughout the country

This year we will celebrate the Epiphany with snow, northern winds and bitter cold. The gradual change in the weather is expected to start tomorrow evening from the north, with rain turning into snow in mountainous and hilly areas. The temperature will drop two to three degrees initially, but with the prevalence of northern winds of 6 to 7B, the cold will become more bitter in the early hours of Sunday.

In northern Greece, the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, the Cyclades, Crete and the Dodecanese the weather will be cloudy with light rainfall which will intensify in the afternoon.

Local snowfall is expected on the mountains and in hilly areas during the night. In the rest of the western mainland clouds will increase during the night and in the south they will be followed by snowfall on the mountains and in hilly areas.

Attica

Weather: cloud which will gradually increase.

Winds: 4 – 5B.

Temperature: 5 – 13C.

On Sunday snowfall is expected throughout Macedonia and Thrace and sleet in coastal areas. Snowfall is also expected on the mountains of the Aegean islands and in Crete, and probably in areas around the eastern mainland, Evia, Penteli, Parnitha and Malakasa. Islands in the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese should expect cloudy weather with local rainfall, but of short duration.

The maximum temperature will reach 7B in the north of Attica, dropping to just above zero early Monday morning due to the prevalence of northern winds.

On Sunday night the harsh weather phenomena will be reduced in southwestern Peloponnese and then will stop, but with winds and bitter cold remaining on Monday as well.

According to HNMS director Antonis Lalos, it seems that this slight improvement of bad weather will be short-lived, with a second wave coming from Monday night.

There will be more snowfall throughout Greece, and on Tuesday it will appear in Attica. The bitter cold will probably last until the middle of next week.

Fears that pollutants will hit red due to temperature drop

Greek scientists are expressing their fear that the smog phenomenon will worsen and pollutants will hit red with the drop in temperature, while the political leadership appears unprepared to face the danger of the uncontrolled usage of fireplaces, as demonstrated by yesterday's meeting at the Environment ministry.

On Thursday, the Panhellenic Medical Association urged the government to take all necessary measures to protect the population from the harmful effects of burning wood products, which as they stated «will have unpredictable effects on both the public health and the environment.»

The Association also said that it is imperative for the government to use financial incentives in order to promote the use of oil and natural gas as heating sources for citizens, many of whom are unable to use them because of the economic crisis. "As a social good public health is invaluable and the unexpected dimensions of the population’s morbidity will create huge economic costs as well", its statement concludes.