Recommendations to the citizens to be especially careful, taking care to take self-protection measures from risks arising from the occurrence of severe weather phenomena, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection addresses due to the bad weather with the name “ILINA” that is predicted to affect our country today Monday April 3rd and tomorrow Tuesday April 4th.

earlier today, message via 112 was sent to the residents of Thessaloniki, Pella, Imathia and Pieria warning them of dangerous weather phenomena (strong storms-stormy winds) from midday in their area and inviting them to limit their movements to those absolutely necessary following the instructions of the Authorities .

In particular, in areas where heavy rains, storms or gale-force winds are predicted, the Public Health Service recommends that citizens:

  • To secure objects which, if carried away by severe weather conditions, may cause damage or injury.
  • Make sure that the gutters and downspouts of the houses are not blocked and are working properly.
  • Avoid crossing torrents and streams, on foot or by vehicle, during storms and rainfall, but also for several hours after the end of their event.
  • Avoid outdoor work and activities in marine and coastal areas during severe weather events (risk of lightning strikes).
  • Take shelter immediately during a hailstorm. Take shelter in a building or car and do not leave the safe area until they are sure the storm has passed. Hail can be very dangerous for animals too.
  • Avoid passing under large trees, under posted signs and in general through areas where light objects (e.g. pots, broken glass, etc.) can become detached and fall to the ground (e.g. under balconies ).
  • To faithfully follow the instructions of the local authorities, such as Traffic, etc.

In areas with intense lightning activity:

If you are at home:

  • Do not hold electrical appliances or the telephone as lightning can pass through the wires. Disconnect the TV sets from the antenna and the power supply.
  • Avoid touching plumbing pipes (kitchen, bathroom) as they are good conductors of electricity.

If you are in the car:

  • Park it on the side of the road and away from trees that might fall on it.
  • Stay inside and turn on your stop warning lights (emergency lights) until the storm clears.
  • Close windows and do not touch metal objects.
  • Avoid flooded roads.

If you are outdoors:

  • Take refuge in a building or car or sit on the ground immediately without lying down.
  • Take cover under solid branches of low trees if you are in the woods.
  • Never take shelter under a tall tree in an open area.
  • Avoid low-lying lands for the risk of flooding.
  • Do not stand next to utility poles, power lines, telephone lines and fences.
  • Keep away from metal objects (eg cars, bicycles, camping gear, etc.).
  • Stay away from rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.
  • If you are in the sea, get out immediately.
  • If you’re isolated on a flat surface and feel your hair stand on end (signaling that lightning is about to strike), sit deep with your head between your legs (to minimize your body surface area and contact with the ground ) by throwing the metal objects you have on you.

At the same time, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gov.gr) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, has informed the competent state agencies involved in the official service, as well as the regions and municipalities of the country, so that they are in increased readiness civil protection, in order to immediately deal with the effects of the occurrence of severe weather phenomena.

Furthermore, the operational plan for dealing with risks from the occurrence of floods is implementedas well as their accompanying phenomena, while the fire services of the areas where the phenomena are expected to occur have been placed in a state of increased readiness and further escalation if required, in order to deal with any problems immediately.

According to the updated Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK) issued today, Monday, April 3, 2023, by the National Meteorological Service (NMS), the severe weather system named “ILINA” is predicted to affect our country today, Monday (04-3-2023 ) and tomorrow Tuesday (4-4-2023) with heavy rains and storms, which will be accompanied in places by a high frequency of lightning, by hail and by strengthened winds locally stormy in the Aegean.

Citizens can be updated daily on the development of extraordinary weather phenomena in the regular weather reports of EMY and on the website of EMY at the online address www.emy.gr.

For information and announcements about the prevailing situation and the passability of the road network due to the inflow of flood waters, citizens can visit the ELAS website. www.astynomia.gr.

For more information and self-protection instructions from severe weather, citizens can visit the website of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection at www.civilprotection.gov.gr.