November is getting off to a powerful start, with rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds already making their presence felt. Starting this Sunday (01/11), weather conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly, with heavy localized rainfall and thunderstorms forecast across much of the country. Temperatures will also drop further, with winds reaching up to 7 Beaufort in the Northern Aegean.
Weather forecast: Rain and thunderstorms on Sunday — which regions are in the eye of the storm
According to meteo.gr, heavy localized rainfall and thunderstorms are expected across most of the country until midday on Sunday. From the afternoon onwards, the most severe weather will primarily affect Central and Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the Aegean islands. Hail is expected mainly in coastal, island, and maritime areas, while dust concentrations in the atmosphere will be relatively elevated in the north and east.
Temperatures on Sunday are forecast as follows: Western Macedonia 4–12°C, the rest of Macedonia and Thrace 7–17°C, Thessaly 9–16°C, Epirus 8–18°C, Central Greece and the Peloponnese 10–19°C, the Ionian Islands 13–19°C, the Northern and Eastern Aegean islands 11–16°C, the Cyclades 14–17°C, and the Dodecanese and Crete 15–19°C.
Winds in the Northern Aegean will initially blow from the northeast at 3–5 Beaufort. From midday, they will shift to southeasterly at 4–6 Beaufort, with temporary gusts reaching 7 Beaufort in places. In the Central Aegean, winds will blow from the southeast at 3–5 Beaufort, rising to 4–6 Beaufort from midday. In the Southern Aegean, winds will blow from the south at 3–5 Beaufort, with temporary gusts of up to 6 Beaufort in places. In the Ionian Sea, winds will blow from variable directions at 3–5 Beaufort.
In Attica, cloudy skies with rain and thunderstorms are expected. Conditions may be locally severe from the morning through to the afternoon. Winds will blow from the south at 2–4 Beaufort, rising to 3–5 Beaufort around midday and into the afternoon. Temperatures in central Athens will range between 15 and 18°C.
In the Thessaloniki regional unit, cloudy skies with rain and thunderstorms are also forecast. Conditions will be locally intense from midday onwards. Winds will blow from the east at 3–5 Beaufort. Temperatures in central Thessaloniki will range between 12 and 17°C.
Special severe weather bulletin issued
Greece’s National Meteorological Service (EMY) has issued a special severe weather warning bulletin, alerting the public to heavy rain and thunderstorms from the early hours of Sunday (1/11) through to Monday (2/11/2026). According to the forecast, intense weather phenomena are expected to affect primarily the western and northern parts of the country, as well as the eastern island regions. Localized hail is also possible, and EMY is urging citizens to exercise caution given the severity of conditions.
More specifically, locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast as follows:
Sunday (01-11-2026)
a. In the Ionian Islands, from the early morning hours through to midday.
b. In Epirus, western Central Greece, and the western and southern Peloponnese, from the early morning hours through to the afternoon.
c. In Central and Eastern Macedonia, from the morning hours through to late at night.
d. In the Northern and Eastern Aegean islands, from the afternoon hours through to late at night.
e. In the Dodecanese, from the afternoon onwards.
Monday (02-11-2026)
a. In the Ionian Islands, intermittently, from the morning hours.
b. In Epirus, western Central Greece, and the western Peloponnese, from the afternoon through to late at night.
c. In the Dodecanese, intermittently, until the evening hours.
Civil Protection safety guidelines
Greece’s Civil Protection authority has issued a set of safety recommendations to help citizens protect themselves from the extreme weather conditions. According to the official announcement: “The General Secretariat for Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr), under the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, has notified all relevant state services, as well as regional and municipal authorities across the country, to remain on heightened civil protection alert in order to respond immediately to any impacts arising from the severe weather events.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection is also urging citizens to exercise particular caution and take appropriate self-protection measures against the dangers posed by severe weather phenomena.
Specifically, in areas where heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, or strong winds are forecast:
- Secure any objects that could be swept away by severe weather and cause damage or injury.
- Make sure that gutters and drainpipes in your home are clear and functioning properly.
- Avoid crossing streams and torrents — whether on foot or by vehicle — during or for several hours after storms and heavy rain. Exercise particular caution at points on the road network where roads cross streams without a bridge.
- Avoid outdoor work and activities in coastal and maritime areas during severe weather events due to the risk of lightning strikes.
- Seek shelter immediately during a hailstorm. Take refuge in a building or vehicle and do not leave a safe location until you are certain the storm has passed. Hail can also be very dangerous for animals.
- Avoid walking under large trees, hanging signs, or in any area where lightweight objects (e.g. flower pots, broken glass, etc.) could become dislodged and fall — such as beneath balconies.
- Follow all instructions issued by local authorities, such as traffic police.
In areas experiencing intense lightning activity:
If you are at home
- Do not handle electrical appliances or the telephone, as lightning can travel through cables. Disconnect televisions from their aerial and from the power supply.
- Avoid touching plumbing fixtures (in the kitchen or bathroom), as these can conduct electricity.
If you are in a vehicle
- Pull over to the side of the road and park away from trees that could fall on the vehicle.
- Stay inside and turn on your hazard lights until the storm passes.
- Close all windows and avoid touching metal surfaces inside the vehicle.
- Avoid flooded roads.
If you are outdoors
- Seek shelter in a building or vehicle; if neither is available, crouch down immediately without lying flat on the ground.
- If you are in a forest, take shelter under the dense branches of low trees.
- Never take shelter under a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
- Avoid low-lying ground due to the risk of flooding.
- Do not stand near pylons, power lines, telephone lines, or fences.
- Keep away from metal objects (e.g. cars, bicycles, camping equipment, etc.).
- Move away from rivers, lakes, or any other bodies of water.
- If you are in the sea, get out immediately.
- If you are isolated in a flat, open area and feel your hair standing on end — a sign that a lightning strike is imminent — squat low with your head between your knees (to minimize your body surface area and contact with the ground) and discard any metal objects you are carrying.
For information and updates on current conditions and road network passability due to flooding, citizens can visit the Hellenic Police website at www.astynomia.gr.
For more information and self-protection guidelines on severe weather phenomena, citizens can visit the General Secretariat for Civil Protection website at civilprotection.gov.gr.”
Weather outlook for the next two weeks
Looking ahead, the weather picture is set to gradually clear over the coming days, with the first forecasts for November pointing to a succession of changing conditions.
Dimitris Kampolis, physicist specializing in Environmental Science and Meteorology, with an MSc in Environmental Studies and Climate Change, has analyzed the available data and presented his assessment of how weather patterns will evolve in the coming period. Initially, locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected across most of the country. Conditions will then turn more wintry, with a noticeable drop in temperatures. However, according to his forecast, after this cold spell passes, the weather is expected to improve significantly.
His medium-range weather bulletin, published on youweather.com, provides the following detailed outlook:
Based on GFS & ECMWF Ensembles & YouWeather model (30/10/2026)
The period from 31 October to 15 November 2026 is characterized by:
A gradual rise in temperatures between 31 October and 3 November, accompanied by locally intense rainfall and thunderstorms across most of the country. A frontal system (squall line) is likely on Saturday night/early Sunday morning, as well as Sunday night/early Monday morning, with more intense conditions expected in the northwest and north.
A significant temperature drop between 4 and 9 November, with locally intense weather in the west and sporadic activity elsewhere. This will be driven by strong anticyclonic pressure over northwestern Europe, which will channel cold air masses toward southeastern Europe and the Balkans.
Temperatures will then rise again — potentially to above-average levels for the season by mid-month.
