An emergency meeting was held at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, under the Minister Vasilis Kikilia, in view of the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena (EDEKF) issued today Sunday by the National Meteorological Service, according to which the weather in our country will worsen with heavy rains and storms accompanied by hail and a high frequency of lightning, with enhanced winds and a noticeable drop in temperature. A barometric low from the northern Balkans with cold air masses is forecast to move south (to the southern Ionian) and affect most regions of our country.

The highest rain heights will accept Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, northern Evia and Peloponnese.

Minister Mr. Kikilias underlined that the entire Civil Protection mechanism put on high alert, and emphasized to all participants the need for full preparedness, in order to take the necessary preventive measures and immediately deal with any problems that may arise due to the upcoming dangerous weather phenomena. Mr. Kikilias requested that special attention be shown, given that the dangerous phenomena will affect most areas of the country.

During the meeting, it was decided to activate 112, if deemed necessary, for sending warning messages to specific areas depending on the evolution of phenomena.

At the same time, a strong recommendation is addressed to citizens be very careful, to follow the instructions of the authorities and to take all the necessary self-protection measures, in accordance with the instructions of the Public Health Service.

At the end of the meeting, the realization was decided new meeting tomorrow Monday, immediately after the update of the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena (EDEKF) by the National Meteorological Service.

The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Policy participated in the meeting Protection Evangelos Tournasthe Fire Chief Lt.-Gen Georgios Pournarasthe Commander of ESKEDIK Major General Theodoros Vayasthe Chief of the Class Branch Lt.-Gen George Michalopoulosthe Commander of the EMY Brig Spyridonas BarsakisDirector of EMY Theodoros Kolydas and a scientific team of meteorologists, as well as the Regional Governors of Central Macedonia Apostolos TzizikostasAttica, George PatoulisThessaly Konstantinos AgorastosMainland Greece Fanis Spanosthe Deputy Regional Governor of Western Greece Charalambos Bonanosthe Regional Civil Protection Coordinator of Peloponnese Vasilios Hatzisthe Head of the Autonomous Directorate of Civil Protection of the Ionian Islands George Naum and the Vice-President of the Civil Protection Committee of KEDE Vlasis Siomos.

Rains and storms are coming

The weather in our country will deteriorate from Monday 4-9-2023 to Wednesday 6-9-2023 with heavy rains and storms that will be accompanied by hail and a high frequency of lightning, with increased winds and a noticeable drop in temperature. A barometric low from the northern Balkans with cold air masses is predicted to move south (to the southern Ionian) and will affect most areas of our country.

Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, northern Evia and the Peloponnese will receive the highest amounts of rain.

Analytically:

A. Heavy rains and storms are forecast:

On Monday 4-9-2023

a. From the midday hours in western and central Macedonia and early in eastern Macedonia and Thrace. From late afternoon the phenomena will be limited to central Macedonia (mainly in the prefectures of Pieria and Imathia).

b. from noon in Epirus, Thessaly, Sporades and gradually in the Ionian Islands, Sterea and Evia

c. from early afternoon in the Peloponnese (mainly the west and the north).

On Tuesday 5-9-2023

a. at times until the afternoon in Epirus, the Ionian Islands, western Sterea and western Peloponnese

b. in central Macedonia (mainly in the prefectures of Pieria, Imathia and Halkidiki), Thessaly, the Sporades, central and eastern Sterea (mainly in the prefectures of Evrytania, Fthiotida and Boeotia and temporarily in the prefecture of Attica, mainly in its western and northern parts), the Evia (mainly the north), eastern and southern Peloponnese and western Crete

c. from midday to evening in the western Cyclades and the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean.

On Wednesday 6-9-2023

In Thessaly, the Sporades, central and eastern Sterea (mainly the prefectures of Evrytania, Fthiotida and Boeotia), northern Evia, eastern and southern Peloponnese and western and southern Crete. From the evening the phenomena will weaken except for the regions of Thessaly and the Sporades where they will continue until the morning hours of Thursday.

B. Strengthened northeasterly winds of intensity 7 to 8 Beaufort will blow in the northern Aegean from the evening of Monday 4-9-2023 until the evening of Tuesday 5-9-2023.

C. From Monday 4-9-2023 the temperature will drop noticeably from north to south by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius in the Ionian and continental regions.

More details on the development of the weather in the daily regular and extraordinary weather bulletins and on the EMY website (www.hnms.gr). Forecasts will be updated daily every twelve hours.

Citizens are advised to be especially careful, taking measures to protect themselves from risks arising from the occurrence of severe weather phenomena, the general secretariat of Civil Protection addresses in view of the deterioration of the weather.

🚒 Operational preparedness of the Fire Brigade according to the emergency bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena issued by the EMY.
📎 https://t.co/mPNWwju1hv pic.twitter.com/vnMkO8rfbu

— Fire Department (@pyrosvestiki) September 3, 2023

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 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.
  • Do not approach metal objects (eg cars, bicycles, camping equipment, 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.

In addition, the general secretariat of Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, has informed the competent government agencies involved, as well as the regions and municipalities of the country, so that they are on increased civil protection readiness, in order to immediately deal with the effects of the occurrence of severe weather phenomena.

At the same time, as the Fire Department states in its announcement, the operational plans are being implemented to deal with the risks of flooding, as well as their accompanying phenomena, while the fire department remains on general alert, in order to immediately deal with any problems arising from the event of severe weather phenomena.

It is noted that according to the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena (EDEKF) issued today by the National Meteorological Service (EMS), the weather in our country will deteriorate from Monday 4-9-2023 to Wednesday 6-9-2023 with heavy rains and storms that will be accompanied by hail and a high frequency of lightning, with increased winds and a noticeable drop in temperature. A barometric low from the northern Balkans with cold air masses is predicted to move south (to the southern Ionian) and will affect most areas of our country.

Thessaly, Sporades, central and eastern Sterea, northern Evia and the Peloponnese will receive the highest amounts of rain.

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 regarding the prevailing situation and the passability of the road network due to the influx of flood waters into it, citizens can visit the EL.AS 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 civilprotection.gov.gr