Severe storms continue to batter some of Greece’s most iconic islands just weeks before the start of the Greek Easter holiday and the tourist season. Island communities are bracing for more heavy rain, strong winds, and hail as the storm system persists into Wednesday.
According to Greece’s National Meteorological Service (EMY), Crete and the Dodecanese will remain at the epicenter of the new wave of extreme weather until midday Wednesday, while the islands of Chios, Samos and Ikaria have also received a severe weather warning.
An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the port of Naousa, after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Stathis Roussos)
Both Paros and Mykonos have been declared in a state of emergency following intense rainfall that caused flash flooding, sweeping away cars and debris and inundating shops and streets. The two Cycladic islands will remain under emergency status until April 30, 2025, unless otherwise extended.
On Paros, crews are working to clean up the damage as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the destruction. A meteorologist from Greek public television (ERT) described the situation as a result of a “nearly stationary storm cluster” over the Cyclades. The meteorologist related that “Private weather stations recorded over 100 tons of rainfall per 1,000 square meters in Lefkes and higher elevations,” she noted. “That water flowed down natural drainage paths into Naoussa, effectively turning the area into a temporary river.”
In Mykonos the severe storms generated torrential rains that swept cars off roads, uprooted trees, and flooded businesses. Authorities have issued warnings to residents, urging them to limit movement while emergency crews work to clear debris and restore basic infrastructure.
Crete has also been hit hard, with dramatic scenes unfolding in Chania on Tuesday. Streets turned into rivers, trapping drivers in their vehicles as floodwaters rose high enough to reach the middle of parked cars.
The General Hospital of Chania flooded as water poured in through the main entrance, while flooding was also reported in other important public administration buildings in the city.
Flight operations at Chania International Airport (Ioannis Daskalogiannis) were severely disrupted, with several flights cancelled, delayed, and even diverted to the nearby airport of Heraklion.
Dramatic images from Rhodes also circulated the internet, showing high winds and waves that wash over the iconic Mandraki harbor, the “home” of the Colossos of Rhodes. Other videos of the severe storms show winds uprooting trees and blowing out shop windows as local news reported that a tornado ripped through the town center.
