Cold weather, low temperatures and snow are part of the weather forecast through New Year’s Day, according to the latest meteorological predictions. Specifically, meteorologist Olga Papavgouli reported that with the arrival of polar air masses over Greece, there will be a dramatic temperature drop of up to 10 degrees Celsius in some areas, while frost will prevail across the mainland, particularly strong in the northern mountainous regions. Additionally, northerly winds will strengthen, reaching up to 8 on the Beaufort scale locally.
Weather: Which areas will see snow
While snowfall will generally be limited, the most significant phenomena are expected in Evia and Crete, where locally snow may fall at relatively low altitudes.
Weather will gradually improve on New Year’s Day, though temperatures will remain at particularly low levels, with New Year’s Eve night being the coldest night so far. New Year’s Day is expected to be particularly cold throughout the country, with the possibility of snowfall not ruled out in some areas of Attica.
Yannis Kallianos weather forecast
According to meteorologist Yannis Kallianos, from Wednesday evening there may be temporary and local snowfall at altitudes above 400 meters, while towards midnight snow might descend to 250-300 meters, mainly in the northern suburbs of Attica.
The phenomena are expected to mainly affect the upper parts of residential areas at the foothills of Mount Penteli and Mount Parnitha, as well as other northern and far northern suburbs.
However, according to Kallianos, snowfall will be local and generally light to moderate, influenced by microtopography, temperatures and local winds. In Attica, the prevailing northerly and northwesterly winds do not favor heavy snowfall, which would likely be more intense with a northeasterly direction.
On New Year’s Eve, the first snowfall will appear in the northwestern parts of Attica prefecture, reaching semi-mountainous zones from 400 to 500 meters.
Late on New Year’s Eve night, in the rest of the country local snowfall may occur intermittently in the following areas, according to Kallianos’ forecast:
- Central-eastern Evia from 300 to 350 meters
- Central mainland Greece from 450 to 500 meters
- Northern Peloponnese from 700 to 750 meters
- Phthiotis and Boeotia prefectures from 250 to 300 meters
- Very locally in Western Thessaly, briefly, even at low altitudes
- Western mainland Greece from 700 meters
- Northern Cyclades from 400 to 500 meters
Which lowland areas may see snow
Around the New Year transition, brief snowfall is possible even in lowland areas, near sea level. Such phenomena may occur in Skyros, islands of the Northern Sporades, Lemnos, Thasos, Samothrace, as well as northern areas of Xanthi, Rodopi and Evros prefectures. In central-northern Crete, snowfall will occur above 700-800 meters.
The cold snap begins from Tuesday evening, December 30, causing temperature drops in many areas. The coldest hours will be in the early hours of New Year’s Day, with temperatures potentially reaching as low as -12 degrees Celsius in northern and mountainous zones. However, this cold period will not last long, as from Friday temperatures will show gradual increase, with values possibly reaching up to 18 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
