The change in weather brought yesterday by unstable air masses from the northwestern Balkans with heavy rains and thunderstorms accompanied by a high frequency of lightning and local hailstorms, led the Civil Protection to issue on Wednesday afternoon a 112 warning message for severe weather in the areas of Thessaloniki, Pieria, Halkidiki and Kavala.

Already during the night there was intense lightning activity in the north and areas of Evia.

The Civil Protection asked residents of the areas that received the warning SMS, which covers the period from the early hours of Thursday morning until noon on the same day, “to limit travel during the severe weather and follow the instructions of the authorities.”

Rains and hailstorms were also recorded yesterday in the northern suburbs of Athens, but without any problems.

At the same time, an extraordinary meeting was held yesterday by the Risk Assessment Committee, with the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, stressing that “especially for this bad weather we need to be very careful about lightning on land and sea”. According to the minister’s official statement, the biggest problems will occur in the morning hours (4/7).

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, EMY updated the emergency bulletin of dangerous weather phenomena, stating that the weather is expected to worsen until late afternoon with heavy rains and thunderstorms accompanied by a high frequency of lightning and local hail.

In more detail, heavy showers and thunderstorms are forecast:

Today Thursday (04-07-24)

a. In eastern Macedonia and areas of central Macedonia (mainly the prefectures of Thessaloniki – Halkidiki) and the islands of the northeastern Aegean (north of Mytilene) until midday.

b. In Thessaly and the Sporades from morning to evening hours.

c. In central and eastern Sterea (including Attica), eastern Peloponnese and Evia from midday to afternoon.

According to Meteo the phenomena will be stronger in Central Macedonia (mainly in the prefectures of Halkidiki and Thessaloniki) until the morning and in Thessaly and Eastern Central Greece from noon to late afternoon. In the same areas and during the same hours hail is possible. Due to the fact that dust concentrations in the atmosphere of the Aegean and the southeastern continental areas will be relatively increased, we expect the occurrence of mud showers in some places.

It is noted that heavy showers and thunderstorms with the possibility of hail are also forecast for Attica in the afternoon and noon.

The weather today

Showers and thunderstorms are expected initially in Central and Eastern Macedonia (mainly in the prefectures of Halkidiki and Thessaloniki), in the Sporades and in the eastern parts of Thessaly. From the morning hours the phenomena will intensify and will affect the rest of the country. A weakening is expected in the early evening hours. The phenomena will be stronger in Central Macedonia (mainly in the prefectures of Halkidiki and Thessaloniki) until the morning and in Thessaly and Eastern Central Greece from midday until late afternoon. In the same areas and during the same hours hail is possible. Due to the fact that dust concentrations in the atmosphere of the Aegean and the southeastern continental areas will be relatively increased, we expect the occurrence of mud showers in some places.

The temperature in Western Macedonia will range from 16 to 27 degrees Celsius, in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace from 21 to 31, in Epirus from 17 to 30, in Thessaly from 24 to 31, in Sterea from 19 to 30, in the Peloponnese from 17 to 30, in the Ionian islands from 19 to 28, in the North and East Aegean islands from 20 to 32, in the Cyclades from 19 to 29, in the Dodecanese from 21 to 28 and in Crete from 20 to 31 degrees Celsius.

The winds in the North Aegean will blow from northeastern directions from 2 to 4 Beaufort. In the Central Aegean the winds will initially blow from southerly directions 2 to 4 Beaufort but towards the evening they will shift to northerly winds of the same intensity. In the South Aegean, winds will blow from westerly directions 3 to 5 Beaufort. In the Ionian Sea the winds will blow from northwestern directions 2 to 4 and locally up to 5 Beaufort.

WATCH FOR FRIDAY 05-07-2024
Weather forecast for Friday 05-07-2024

Cloudy weather in most areas, but in the morning in eastern Central Greece, Evia and eastern Thessaly, and in the midday and afternoon hours in the rest of the mainland and Crete, clouds will develop and it is possible, especially in the mountains, that there will be local rain.

The winds will blow north-northwest 3 to 5 and locally in the Aegean Sea 6 Beaufort.
The temperature will rise slightly, mainly in the west and north, reaching 33 to 35 degrees Celsius on the mainland and 29 to 32 degrees Celsius on the islands.

WATCH FOR SATURDAY 06-07-2024

Generally clear weather with occasional clouds in the midday and afternoon hours in the mountainous areas of the mainland.
Winds will blow from the north, in the west 3 to 5 and in the east 4 to 6 and locally in the Aegean Sea 7 Beaufort.
The temperature will rise further and will reach 34 to 36 degrees Celsius on the mainland and 31 to 33 degrees Celsius on the islands.

WATCH FOR SUNDAY 07-07-2024
Generally clear weather with a few occasional clouds in the midday and afternoon hours in the mountainous areas of the northwestern part of the country.
Winds will blow from the north at 4 to 6 and locally in the Aegean Sea at 7 Beaufort.
The temperature will rise further.