Falling temperatures, heavy rain, sleet and snow as winter arrives for mainland Greece and the islands. It's hardly holiday weather but eastern Europe is still in the grip of deep cold.
At this time of year, you might be planning holidays abroad or just dreaming of sunshine in southern Europe. Whilst the Costas of Spain are having a sunny few days with temperatures in the high teens, even low 20sC, that is not the case for Greece as a cold plunge arrives for the end of this week.
The UK is finally getting rid of the cold, grey gloomy weather that has stagnated over us for most of February. As the jetstream strengthens we will be buffeted by wet and windy weather from the Atlantic. It was a blocking high pressure over eastern Europe that kept our weather chilly and stable for the first half of the month. This has steered deep cold from the Arctic over western Russia into eastern Europe mid-month and now Greece is facing the arrival of that same cold pool with heavy rain, sleet and even snow. In the February half-term holidays, you might be wishing you were elsewhere but the Mediterranean can be disappointing choice weather-wise, so early in the year.
This cold wave has been named “Coral” by the Greek National Meteorological Service.
There will be a gradual deterioration in the weather across Greece until Monday 24th with the most intense cold at the weekend. There will be stormy weather around the Aegean Sea with even light snowfall for the Aegean Islands and the high ground of Crete. Wintry weather is forecast for parts of mainland Greece although it is the low temperatures and cold that are the main focus of this 'Coral' event. There will be thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and lightning and the risk of flooding. The low temperatures will lead to frost and icy conditions with a drop of 8 to 10 degrees in northern and eastern areas.
With high pressure to the north steadying the deep cold, there will be a flow of cold air over northern Turkey, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.
Mon 17 Feb 2025 - Mon 24 Feb 2025 2m temperature Weekly anomaly- mild in the west, cold in the east ECM
Just as when the UK faces severe weather, the various agencies and ministries of Greece are issuing warnings and advice.
Emergency plans are being put into action in the city of Athens starting on Wednesday the 19th. These include shelter, food and essential care services with distribution to homeless people of hot drinks, clothing and blankets.
The snow might be welcomed in northern regions such as Macedonia, where there are around 25 ski resorts. The 2024 ski season was terrible due to ongoing warmth. Cold spell 'Coral' might interrupt that overall trend for a while.
This cold wave comes in a week when research showed that Greece is seeing fewer snow days and reduced snow coverage overall due to climate change. A study by the National Observatory of Athens team found sharp declines in annual snow cover, especially in northern Greece. This decline impacts Greece’s water cycle, particularly the replenishment of groundwater. “The slow melting of snow, especially in spring, is beneficial for underground water reserves and soil moisture,” said research director Kostas Lagouvardos.
He noted that snow now arrives later in November and melts earlier in spring and had been impacting winter tourism and ski resorts with shorter snow seasons.
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