Weather Alert: Prolonged Rain and Storms Hit Greece – Thursday to Be Hardest

Weather conditions are set to deteriorate across Greece, with prolonged rainfall expected to affect numerous regions. Rainfall will be intense in many areas, beginning Wednesday evening (04.02.2026) in western and northwestern parts. Thursday (05.02.2026) is forecast to be the most challenging day, featuring widespread moderate to heavy rain, localized strong thunderstorms, and storm-force southerly winds reaching 8–9 Beaufort. Meteorologist Giannis Kallianos notes that Greece is entering a 10-day period of persistent atmospheric instability, as successive low-pressure systems moving in from the west bring successive waves of rain, isolated thunderstorms, and strong winds—especially along coastal zones. Phenomena will impact much of the country, with African dust transport increasing the likelihood of muddy rain. From midday onward, rain will begin in western regions, spreading by evening to Thessaly and northern Greece; overnight, it will reach the North Aegean. Rain intensity will be moderate locally, with scattered thunderstorms expected in the Ionian Sea and Epirus. Light snowfall is forecast during nighttime hours over mountainous areas of Epirus and western Macedonia. Temperatures will rise slightly—reaching ~14°C in the north, 16–17°C in eastern mainland areas, ~19°C in western Greece, and up to 20°C on Crete. Winds will blow mainly from the south: 7–8 Beaufort in the Ionian Sea, 4–6 Beaufort in the Aegean—with local intensification to 7 Beaufort overnight. In Attica, skies will gradually cloud over from noon, with possible light, isolated rain late evening into early Thursday. Temperatures there will range between 9°C and 17°C, with southerly winds at 4–5 Beaufort (gusting to 6). In Thessaloniki, increasing cloud cover will give way to more frequent and heavier rain by evening; temperatures will range from 7°C to 14°C, with winds shifting to southerly at 4–6 Beaufort after noon. On Thursday, clouds and showers will prevail—especially in western, northern, and gradually eastern Aegean and Cretan regions—with scattered, occasionally strong thunderstorms. Rain will ease in western areas by afternoon; thunderstorms will persist into the night only over Thrace, Crete, the eastern Aegean islands, and the Dodecanese. Light snow is expected over inland mountains. African dust transport remains favorable, especially over central and southern Greece.