Snowfall in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, Evia, northern and eastern Peloponnese and from midday and in areas of lower altitude are expected for today, Monday according to the EMY, with the state mechanism to is on alert.

According to the updated emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin, issued on 27-01-2024/1100 by the National Meteorological Service (EMS), the weather will gradually deteriorate as two disturbances, the first from yesterday Sunday (28-01-24) and the second from noon on Monday (29-01-24) and Tuesday (30-01-24) will affect the country. More intense phenomena will be manifested by the second disturbance.

In more detail, in the eastern mainland and in the Aegean, local rains or sleet and in marine and coastal storms. The effects from midday will be strong in places, mainly in the Sporades, Evia, the Cyclades and Crete. Snowfall will occur in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Thessaly, the Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, Evia, northern and eastern Peloponnese, Crete as well as in the highlands of the Aegean islands. From noon in Thessaly, the Sporades, eastern Sterea, Evia and the eastern and northern Peloponnese, the snowfall will intensify and it will also snow in areas with a lower altitude (indicatively 300-400m).

In the rest of the country, a few clouds in places increased in Macedonia and Thrace where there will be light snowfalls.

The winds will blow in the west east northeast 3 to 5 Beaufort and in the east north northeast 4 to 6 and in the Aegean 7 and locally 8 Beaufort.

The temperature will see a slight further drop mainly in the east. It will range in the central and north from -05 (minus 5) to 08 to 09 degrees, in the rest of the mainland from -02 (minus 2) to 12 degrees and in the island country from 05 to 12 degrees Celsius.

In the morning and evening hours there will be frost in the continental areas, which in the north will be strong in places.

The snows have already made their appearance since yesterday in Parnitha and in the villas of Attica. In fact, due to the snowfall, by decision of the police, there has been an interruption of vehicle traffic on Parnitha Avenue in both directions, from the height of the cable car, since early Sunday morning.

Snow is also falling in Dervenochoria while it is also snowing in the mountains of Evia in the villages of Seta and Steni.

In detail, the new bulletin obtained from the EMY

From the morning hours today, Monday (29-01-24) light snowfalls will also continue in areas with a lower altitude of Macedonia and Thrace. Intensity of snowfall is predicted from midday on Monday in Thessaly, the Sporades, eastern and central Sterea, Evia and the northern and eastern parts of the Peloponnese.

Snowfall will also occur on the Aegean islands (in the mountains) as well as in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Crete. In particular, for Attica, intensity of snowfall is predicted from the afternoon of Monday (29-01-24) in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas as well as in areas with a lower altitude from the evening.

Tomorrow, Tuesday the snowfall will continue even in areas with a lower altitude in Thessaly, central and eastern Sterea (including Attica), Evia, the Sporades, the northern and eastern regions of the Peloponnese as well as the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, the Cyclades and Crete.

On Wednesday (31-01-24) the snowfall will gradually weaken and will be limited to the mountains and semi-mountains of Crete.

B. Gusty north northeast winds 8 to 9 and locally 10 Beaufort will blow:

a) From the morning hours of Tuesday (30-01-24) initially in the northern and gradually in the central and southern Aegean.

b) On Wednesday (31-01-24) the stormy north winds will be maintained in the Aegean but from the midday hours in the north they will be limited to 8 Beaufort and will gradually weaken.

C. Heavy rains and storms are predicted from the first disturbance today Sunday (28-01-24) in places in Evia and Crete and mainly from the second disturbance from noon on Monday (29-01-24) until Tuesday ( 30-01-24) mainly in Sporades, Evia, Cyclades and Crete.

Where skid chains are mandatory

From tonight at 10 pm on Sunday, the traffic of trucks is prohibited on the old Elefsina-Thebes national road

The ban on the traffic of all kinds of heavy vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tons, regardless of the use of anti-skid chains, on the old national road Elefsina – Thebes from 10 pm on Sunday (28/1), announced the Headquarters of ELAS.

In particular, as emphasized in the announcement, for special security reasons in order to avoid causing traffic problems and due to the occurrence of adverse weather phenomena, by decisions of the Traffic Directorate of Attica and the Police Directorate of Viotia, the traffic of any type of heavy vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of more than of 3.5 tons, regardless of the use of anti-skid chains from 22:00 today 01-28-2024 until the effects subside in both traffic streams P.E.O. Elefsinas-Thebes from the 5th km (REVOIL gas station – formerly CYCLON) of N. Attica to the 34th of P.E.O. Elefsina of Thebes of N. Boeotia.

Excluded from the above prohibition are:

– Roadside assistance vehicles.
-Trucks carrying salt.
-Emergency vehicles.

In addition, by decision of the Traffic Director of Attica, from 22:00 on Monday night (29/1), cars of all categories must be equipped with anti-skid chains or other similar anti-skid means, as long as these vehicles do not have special tires against their traffic on the entire road network of the prefecture of Attica.

Furthermore, due to the imminent occurrence of severe weather phenomena on Monday (29-01-2024) in various regions of Greece (Thessaly, Central Greece), heavy vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tons may be suspended in parts of National Roads.

For this reason, ELAS appeals to the drivers of heavy vehicles to choose an alternative route for their transition from North to South Greece via alternative roads in Western Greece.

In addition, ELAS recommends that citizens be regularly informed about the prevailing weather conditions in their area and the Decisions of the Police or Traffic Departments in force at any given time, to avoid unnecessary movements, to be particularly careful if they need to move and to follow the instructions of the police or other co-competent authorities.

Finally, vehicle drivers must:

-take care of supplying their vehicles with suitable anti-slip means, as well as a sufficient amount of fuel,
– to know how to install and operate the anti-slip means they carry,
-adjust their driving according to the prevailing conditions,
-be especially careful when driving,
– to comply with the signals and instructions of the traffic controllers.

More advice and instructions for road safety, due to bad weather and severe weather phenomena, are available on the website of the Hellenic Police, while, in the special banner on the website of the Hellenic Police, there is also detailed – up-to-date information about holidays – traffic bans, use of anti-skid chains etc. due to weather conditions, for the entire territory.