Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected today, Monday January 26, 2026, across many regions of the country, according to an Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EWDB) issued by the National Meteorological Service (NMS). Simultaneously, stormy southern winds will blow in the Aegean Sea, worsening weather conditions.
Specifically, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms will occur:
a. in western Greece until noon
b. in eastern Macedonia from morning and from pre-noon hours in central Macedonia and temporarily in Thrace
c. in the Eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese from early afternoon
d. in Crete (mainly in western and southern parts) from pre-noon hours
e. in Attica from morning until noon hours
Weather: six regions under red alert
The Regional Unit of Serres in Central Macedonia, as well as the Regional Units of Drama, Kavala, Thasos, Xanthi and Rodopi in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace will be under “Red Code” mobilization status today due to weather deterioration.
Specifically, as stated in an announcement by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection placed the aforementioned regional units under “Red Code” mobilization status for today Monday, following the Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin issued by the National Meteorological Service (NMS) and the meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee.
In this context, municipalities and regions are called to immediately convene the Local Operational Coordination Bodies for Civil Protection (LOCBCP) and the Regional Operational Coordination Bodies for Civil Protection (ROCBCP), respectively, to examine issues related to preparedness and response to risks from flooding phenomena.
Sailing ban from Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio
The severe weather has caused problems with ferry routes as morning departures of Blue Star Delos and Fast Ferries Andros were cancelled, while dolphins to the Saronic Gulf islands remain docked. Simultaneously, the morning route from Rafina port will not operate.
Civil Protection recommendations to citizens ahead of severe weather
The General Secretariat of Civil Protection addresses recommendations to citizens, calling them to be particularly careful, ensuring they take self-protection measures against risks arising from severe weather phenomena.
The General Secretariat of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has informed the competent state services involved, as well as the regions and municipalities of the country, to be on heightened civil protection readiness to immediately address the impacts of severe weather phenomena.
Specifically, in areas where heavy rainfall, thunderstorms or stormy winds are forecast, the GSCP recommends citizens:
- To secure objects that could cause damage or injuries if swept away by severe weather.
- To ensure that hatches and gutters of residences are not blocked and function normally.
- To avoid crossing torrents and streams, on foot or by vehicle, during storms and rainfall, and for several hours after they end. Particular attention is needed at road network points where roads cross torrents without bridges.
- To avoid outdoor work and activities in marine and coastal areas during severe weather (risk from lightning strikes).
- To immediately take shelter during hailstorms. Seek refuge in buildings or cars and do not leave safe spaces until confirming the storm has passed. Hailstorms can be very dangerous for animals too.
- To avoid passing under large trees, hanging signs and areas where light objects (e.g. flower pots, broken glass) might detach and fall (e.g. under balconies).
- To faithfully follow instructions from local authorities like traffic police.
Citizens can stay informed daily about severe weather developments in regular NMS weather bulletins and on the NMS website at www.emy.gr, (www.oldportal.emy.gr)
For information and announcements regarding the prevailing situation and road network accessibility due to flood water ingress or snowfall and frost, citizens can visit the police website www.astynomia.gr. For more information and self-protection instructions from severe weather, citizens can visit the General Secretariat of Civil Protection website at civilprotection.gov.gr.
“Category 3” rainfall episode
According to available forecast data from the National Observatory of Athens / Meteo.gr, Monday 26/01 expects a Category 3 (Significant) rainfall episode, with locally heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Weather deterioration will begin from the west and gradually extend to:
– Eastern Central Greece,
– Southern and Eastern Peloponnese,
– Evia,
– Central and Eastern Central Greece,
– Crete from pre-noon hours,
– Cyclades from noon,
– Sporades,
– Northern and Eastern Aegean islands,
– and Dodecanese.
Phenomena will locally be accompanied by hailstorms, mainly in island areas of the Southern and Eastern Aegean, but possibly also in areas of Northeastern Peloponnese and Southern Attica. Simultaneously, locally stormy southern winds will blow in the Aegean.
The maps below show estimated rainfall heights at two time snapshots of Monday 26/01.
Today’s weather by region
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms until noon in western areas, from morning in eastern Macedonia, from morning to noon hours in Attica, from pre-noon hours in central Macedonia, Crete (mainly western and southern parts) and temporarily in Thrace, and from early afternoon in Eastern Aegean islands and Dodecanese.
Locally stormy southern winds in the Aegean.
Locally increased cloudiness with rain across most of the country. Scattered thunderstorms will initially develop in western and northern areas and gradually in other regions.
Phenomena that will be locally heavy in western, northern areas, Crete (mainly western and southern parts), Eastern Aegean and Attica will stop in northwestern areas during evening hours.
Snowfall will occur in mountainous areas of the country.
Winds will blow from southern-southeastern directions 4-6 Beaufort in western areas, quickly turning to western-southwestern with same intensity. In eastern areas, southern-southeastern winds 5-7 and locally 8 possibly 9 Beaufort in the Aegean, turning from afternoon to southwestern with slight weakening.
Temperature will show a small drop in maximum values except in the Eastern Aegean. In the Ionian and mainland areas it will reach 15-17 degrees, while in northwestern areas it won’t exceed 12-13 degrees, and in the rest of the country it will reach 18-19 degrees Celsius.
MACEDONIA, THRACE
Weather: Increased cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms which in eastern Macedonia from morning and from pre-noon hours in central areas and temporarily in Thrace will be heavy. Snowfall will occur in mountainous areas. From afternoon in western Macedonia phenomena will stop.
Winds: Southern-southeastern 4-5 and in eastern areas 6 temporarily locally 7 Beaufort. From afternoon and from western areas, western-northwestern 3-5 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 05 to 14 degrees Celsius. In western Macedonia 3-4 degrees lower.
IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIRUS, WESTERN CENTRAL GREECE, WESTERN PELOPONNESE
Weather: Increased cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms which until noon will be locally heavy. Snowfall will occur in mountainous areas. In the evening in northern areas phenomena will stop.
Winds: From southern directions 4-6 and gradually from noon from western directions with same intensity.
Temperature: From 09 to 17 and in interior Epirus up to 13 degrees Celsius.
THESSALY, EASTERN CENTRAL GREECE, EVIA, EASTERN PELOPONNESE
Weather: Increased cloudiness with rain. Scattered thunderstorms will develop mainly in southern areas until noon. Snow will occur in Thessaly mountains.
Winds: From southern directions 4-6 and in eastern and southern areas temporarily up to 7 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 07 to 17 degrees Celsius. In northern areas 2-3 degrees lower.
CYCLADES, CRETE
Weather: Cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms which from pre-noon hours in Crete (mainly western and southern parts) will be locally heavy. Light snow will fall in Crete mountains.
Winds: Southeastern 6-8 and in eastern Cyclades possibly locally 9 Beaufort. From noon and from western areas will turn to western-southwestern 6-7 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 10 to 19 degrees Celsius.
EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS – DODECANESE
Weather: Cloudiness with local rain. From noon rain will intensify with scattered thunderstorms developing. From early afternoon phenomena will be locally heavy.
Winds: Southeastern 6-8 and in southern areas possibly locally 9 Beaufort. From afternoon will gradually turn to southern-southwestern 6-7 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 12 to 19 degrees Celsius. In northern areas 2-3 degrees lower.
ATTICA
Weather: Cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms until afternoon, which from morning until noon hours will be locally heavy.
Winds: Southeastern 5-7 which after noon will turn to western directions up to 6 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 08 to 16 degrees Celsius.
THESSALONIKI
Weather: Increased cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms, which from pre-noon hours will temporarily be locally heavy.
Winds: Southeastern 4-6 and from evening northwestern 4-5 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 08 to 14 degrees Celsius.
Weather on Tuesday 27/1
Unstable weather with rain and scattered thunderstorms in Eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese, Cyclades and Crete, and temporarily until noon-afternoon in the Ionian, Macedonia and Thrace.
Gradual improvement across the country from afternoon and from western areas, except eastern and southern island areas where phenomena will persist.
Light snowfall will occur in northern mainland mountains.
Meteorological conditions favor African dust transport to southern and eastern areas.
Winds will blow southern-southwestern 4-6 and locally 7 Beaufort in eastern and southern areas. In the rest of the country northern-northwestern 4-5 and gradually in the Ionian 6 Beaufort.
Temperature will show a small drop, reaching 14-16 degrees in the Ionian and mainland areas, while in northwestern areas it won’t exceed 12-13 degrees, and in the rest of the country it will reach 17-18 degrees Celsius.
Weather on Wednesday 28/1
In Eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese and possibly eastern Crete, cloudiness with local rain and isolated thunderstorms in Dodecanese with rapid weakening.
In the rest of the country light cloudiness increasing in western areas, and after noon local rain in northwestern areas and from evening scattered thunderstorms.
Light snowfall will occur in mainland mountains.
Winds will blow western-northwestern 4-5 and locally up to 6 Beaufort, quickly turning in western areas and gradually in the rest of the country to southern-southwestern, strengthening in the Ionian to 7 Beaufort.
Temperature will show a small rise mainly in western areas.
Weather on Thursday 29/1
Locally increased cloudiness with rain and scattered thunderstorms initially in western
