Almost the entire country is facing harsh winter conditions, as the Meteorological Service issued a warning for dangerous deterioration of weather in five regions, including Attica. The severe weather phenomena expected are anticipated to be accompanied by stormy winds, causing problems in ferry connections, while mountainous areas are already experiencing heavy snowfall.
Particular concern prevails in Attica regarding the occurrence of flooding phenomena, which led to the decision to keep schools closed. Meteorologists emphasize that the flood risk is increased, with phenomena in certain areas potentially taking dangerous proportions.
Severe weather: Red code in five regions
The Risk Assessment Committee issued a Red Code warning for five regions, including Attica. According to the committee’s scientists, convened by the General Secretary of Civil Protection, Nikos Papafstathiou:
a. Tomorrow Wednesday, particularly strong rains and storms are expected in Eastern and Southern Peloponnese (mainly in Messinia, Laconia, Argolida and Corinthia), eastern Central Greece, Evia, Attica, eastern Thessaly and the Sporades, and from the evening of the same day until Thursday noon, in the northern and eastern Aegean islands as well as the Dodecanese.
b. Snowfall is expected on Wednesday in the mountainous – semi-mountainous areas of mainland Greece and will be particularly dense and at low altitudes in western Thessaly and western Macedonia (mainly Trikala, Karditsa and Evrytania).
c. Stormy winds of 8 to 9 Beaufort will blow locally, until Wednesday noon in the northern Ionian, and until Thursday morning in the southern and central Aegean.
For this reason, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, after the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena (EDEΚF) issued by the National Meteorological Service (EMY) and the meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee, placed the following regions in a state of mobilization (Red Code) from Wednesday to Thursday:
- Attica
- Peloponnese
- Central Greece
- Thessaly
- Western Macedonia
In this context, municipalities and regions are called to immediately convene the Local Operational Coordination Bodies of Civil Protection (TESOPP) and the Regional Operational Coordination Bodies of Civil Protection (PESOPP), while limiting movements to absolutely necessary ones in these areas is recommended. According to forecasting data from the National Observatory of Athens / Meteo.gr, during Wednesday, rains and storms will be locally strong from noon in Eastern and Southern Peloponnese, from afternoon in Eastern Central Greece (including Attica), Thessaly, Evia, the Sporades and from evening in the Cyclades.
Emergency bulletin of dangerous phenomena issued by EMY for severe weather
Severe weather is forecast in our country tomorrow Wednesday 21-01-2026 and until Thursday noon 22-01-2026 with main characteristics:
A. strong rains and storms from early Wednesday morning in many areas of central and southern Greece and from the afternoon of the same day in the Aegean,
B. locally intense snowfall on Wednesday in the mountainous – semi-mountainous areas of mainland Greece and in areas of Thessaly and Macedonia with low altitude and
C. locally stormy winds
More specifically:
A. Strong rains and storms are forecast:
a. in the Peloponnese (mainly in Messinia, Laconia, Argolida and Corinthia) on Wednesday until afternoon
b. in eastern Central Greece and Evia on Wednesday from mid-morning hours until evening
c. in Attica on Wednesday afternoon
d. in Thessaly, the Sporades and the Cyclades on Wednesday afternoon
e. in the northern and eastern Aegean islands from late Wednesday evening until Thursday morning hours
f. in the Dodecanese on Thursday until noon hours
It is noted that the phenomena will be particularly intense and will present greater danger in eastern and southern Peloponnese, Attica, Evia, the Sporades, the northern and eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese.
B. Dense snowfall is forecast on Wednesday
a. until noon in the mountainous – semi-mountainous areas of the Peloponnese (mainly Arcadia, Achaia and Corinthia)
b. until afternoon in the mountainous – semi-mountainous areas of Epirus and western and central Central Greece
Schools closed due to severe weather – See in which areas
Due to severe weather phenomena, schools remain closed today, Wednesday January 21, in several areas. It is reminded that it has already been announced that Attica schools will not operate, while according to relevant information from the Ministry of Education, the educational process will mandatorily be conducted with distance learning – provided there is no impediment. It is noted that due to the escalation of phenomena, the list of school units suspending their operation is dynamic, as decisions for suspension of school unit operations may be announced by other municipalities, besides those that follow.
Patras
Due to weather deterioration expected from the evening, with stormy winds and strong gusts and due to damage caused throughout the municipality’s territory (tree falls, power outages etc.), the Municipality of Patras proceeds to suspend operation of all school units of all levels, public and private, for tomorrow Wednesday.
Municipality of Evrotas
The temporary suspension of in-person classes in all Primary and Secondary Education school units (including EEEK), as well as Municipal Nurseries of the Municipality of Evrotas, was announced for tomorrow Wednesday January 21, 2026 due to dangerous weather phenomena and for the protection of students, teachers and parents during access to school units as well as avoiding their exposure to dangerous weather phenomena. The directors of School Units of all levels are responsible for informing teachers and parent-student associations of these units.
Municipality of Amfilochia
The Municipality of Amfilochia informs that due to National Meteorological Service forecasts for very strong winds in the area of Inachus Municipal Unit, the operation of Primary and Secondary Education school units of Inachus Municipal Unit (Kindergartens, Primary schools, Junior High schools and Empesos General High School), Empesos Municipal Nursery and Varetada Primary School of Amfilochia Municipal Unit is suspended tomorrow, Wednesday January 21.
Municipality of Holy City of Messolonghi
By decision of Mayor Spyros Diamantopoulos, the operation of all school units of all education levels in the Municipality of Holy City of Messolonghi (nurseries and infant centers, KDAP, primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, evening schools, SDE, SAEK etc.) is suspended on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The decision was taken due to dangerous weather phenomena prevailing and with a focus on the safety of students, teachers and other staff of school units.
Municipality of Monemvasia
Taking into account the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena issued by the National Meteorological Service, the Mayor of Monemvasia suspends the operation on Wednesday January 21, 2026 of Primary & Secondary Education school units located within the administrative boundaries of Monemvasia Municipality and all municipal nurseries operating within Monemvasia Municipality boundaries.
Chalkida
The Municipality of Chalkida informs that, due to forecasts for severe weather phenomena and the RED CODE status of the Evia Regional Unit, Primary and Secondary schools, Municipal Infant and Child Care Centers and KDAP and KDAP MeA of the Municipality will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, following a decision by Chalkida Mayor Elena Vaka. The decision is taken for preventive reasons, focusing on the safety of students, infants and babies.
Argolida, Corinthia, Laconia and in Northern and Southern Kynouria Municipalities
By decision of the competent Deputy Regional Governors and following recommendations from Risk Assessment Committee members, Civil Protection and EMY, all Primary and Secondary Education schools, as well as social structures, will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday January 21, for preventive reasons in the Regional Units of Argolida, Corinthia and Laconia. For Arcadia Regional Unit, the decision to suspend school unit operations concerns the Northern and Southern Kynouria Municipalities. The decision was taken focusing on protecting students and educational staff due to adverse weather phenomena forecast, with heavy rainfall and storms that may hamper movements to and from school units.
Municipality of Thira
With decision No. 17/2026 of the Mayor, the operation of all municipal school units, including nurseries and infant centers, is suspended on Wednesday January 21, 2026, due to severe weather phenomena, as a prevention and protection measure for student, escort and teacher safety. It’s worth noting that alongside severe weather phenomena, DEDDIE works will be carried out, due to which power cuts will occur. The combination of special conditions makes in-person classroom operation prohibitive.
Specifically, for Thasos Municipality the following apply:
Following a decision by Thasos Mayor, the in-person operation of Skala Marion Kindergarten is suspended on Wednesday 21-01-2026, due to scheduled power cuts by DEDDIE S.A. in Skala Marion Settlement (seat of Skala Marion Kindergarten) on 21-01-2026 from 08:00 to 15:00, combined with particularly low temperatures prevailing today and forecast for tomorrow 21-01-2026, making school unit operation unsafe for young students without heating. It is noted that in Thasos Municipality, partial suspension of school operation due to scheduled power cuts by DEDDIE continues tomorrow, for the third day.
Glyfada Municipality nurseries will operate normally
With an announcement from Glyfada Municipality, it was made known that Glyfada Municipality nurseries will operate normally on Wednesday (21/1). As emphasized in the announcement, “focusing on supporting working parents who cannot keep their children at home and considering that weather phenomenon intensity in the city tomorrow morning is expected – according to forecasts – to allow safe movement, Glyfada Municipality nurseries will operate normally”.
112 message in Messinia, Laconia, Arcadia, Argolida and Corinthia – “Limit your movements”
The 112 system was activated for the Regional Units of Messinia, Laconia, Arcadia, Argolida and Corinthia in view of the severe weather expected to hit the country in the coming hours. As the Civil Protection message states, 112 sounded on Tuesday evening (20/01) “due to severe weather phenomena expected to occur” in Messinia, Laconia and Arcadia.
The 112 message urges residents to limit their movements to absolutely necessary ones, from early morning until late Wednesday afternoon.
⚠️ 112 Activation
🆘 Due to severe weather phenomena expected in Messinia Regional Unit from early morning until late Wednesday afternoon, limit your movements to absolutely necessary ones.
‼️ Follow Authority instructions.
ℹ️…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) January 20, 2026
⚠️ 112 Activation
🆘 Due to severe weather phenomena expected in Laconia Regional Unit from early morning until late Wednesday afternoon, limit your movements to absolutely necessary ones.
‼️ Follow Authority instructions.
ℹ️…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) January 20, 2026
⚠️ 112 Activation
🆘 Due to severe weather phenomena expected in Arcadia Regional Unit from early morning until late Wednesday afternoon, limit your movements to absolutely necessary ones.
‼️ Follow Authority instructions.
ℹ️…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) January 20, 2026
⚠️ 112 Activation
🆘 Due to severe weather phenomena expected in Argolida Regional Unit from early morning until late Wednesday afternoon, limit your movements to absolutely necessary ones.
‼️ Follow Authority instructions.
