Amber Warning Issued as Greece Braces for Consecutive Storms

Successive waves of severe weather are forecast to hit Western Greece, bringing heavy rain and storms from the early hours of Saturday, November 8. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) has issued an orange warning, citing an elevated risk of flooding across the Ionian Islands and parts of the Greek mainland.

According to EMY’s emergency bulletin, the unsettled weather is expected to continue through Monday, with the heaviest rainfall over Epirus, western Central Greece (including Aetolia-Acarnania), and the western Peloponnese. The system will briefly pass over Attica on Monday, with Athens unlikely to see major disruption from the severe conditions.

Greek meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas warned on social media that the three-day period from Saturday to Monday would display distinctly autumnal weather, dominated by a “western weather front” bringing significant precipitation to many regions. Kolydas highlighted Corfu, Ioannina, Patras, Pyrgos, and Kalamata as areas most likely to receive rainfall exceeding 80 to 120 millimeters (3.1–4.7 inches), with localized mountain regions potentially exceeding 130 millimeters (5.1 inches).

The weather on Saturday as storms approach Greece

Saturday’s forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms across the Ionian Islands, Epirus, western Central Greece, and the northwestern Peloponnese, with the most intense conditions expected to ease by the evening.

By nightfall, clouds and occasional rain will move into central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace in Northern Greece. In Thessaly, eastern Central Greece, and the Aegean islands, periods of cloud cover will bring occasional light rain, but no major disruptions are expected.

Winds will generally blow from the south at 4 to 6 on the Beaufort scale (13–27 mph / 20–43 km/h), strengthening temporarily over the seas. Temperatures will range between 18 and 24 °C (64–75 °F), rising slightly in southern regions. Limited visibility is expected in the early morning and late evening, particularly inland, as fog patches persist.

In the Athens metropolitan area and the rest of Attica, the weather will remain mostly cloudy with a few showers, as southern winds strengthen to 5–6 Beaufort (19–27 mph / 31–43 km/h). Temperatures will vary between 14 and 21 °C (57–70 °F). Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, will see passing showers and possible thunderstorms around midday, with conditions improving later in the evening.

The unsettled weather will continue on Sunday, with heavy rain mainly in the Ionian region, Epirus, and western Central Greece. The same pattern will reach other parts of the country in the evening, especially Thessaly and central Macedonia.

By Monday, heavy rainfall is expected again in western and northern regions, while conditions remain milder in the Aegean islands and Crete. Winds will gradually shift from southerlies to westerlies, moderating later in the day. Temperatures will remain mostly stable, with a slight drop in the northwest.