Strong rain and thunderstorms affecting much of eastern and southern Greece are expected to continue through Friday and into Saturday, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said in an updated warning of severe weather.
The storms, driven by the weather system named Byron, are forecast to be intense and long-lasting, with some areas experiencing hail and locally very strong winds.
On Friday, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in central Macedonia; Thessaly and the Sporades; the eastern Aegean; the Dodecanese; the Cyclades; western and southern Crete; and central and eastern mainland Greece, including Attica and Evia.
Certain areas have been placed under a “red” warning for particularly severe and potentially dangerous conditions, including regional units in Pieria, Imathia, Pella, Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Thessaly, the Sporades, the eastern Aegean (especially south of Chios), the Dodecanese, and Evia, until early afternoon.
By Saturday morning, the most severe weather is expected to weaken and become confined to parts of central Macedonia – including Pieria, Imathia, Pella, and Halkidiki – and the Dodecanese, from Samos southward, until midday.
EMY said the warning bulletin will be updated in 12 hours.