A low-pressure system hovering over Greece, called ‘Elena’ will bring rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Elena- the ‘Good Storm’

The rain will be relatively mild, also it could be a bit stronger in eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the morning and the eastern Aegean islands, the Dodecanese, and Crete by afternoon.

Forecasters expect snowfall by the weekend, mainly in mountainous areas, with some reaching semi-mountainous regions in eastern mainland Greece.

Meteorologists are generally pleased by the rain and snow, noting that it will significantly replenish underground water resources. Moreoever, it will finally bring a “white Christmas” holiday season, giving a boost to struggling winter destinations and ski resorts.

Forecast According to Greece’s Meteorological Organization (EMY)

  • Western Greece, Northeastern Mainland, Eastern Aegean Islands, Dodecanese, Cyclades, and Crete:
    Cloudy with rain and occasional thunderstorms. Intense phenomena in eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the morning, the eastern Aegean islands, the Dodecanese, and Crete by afternoon. Weather will gradually improve in the west and north.
  • Rest of Greece:
    Unsettled weather with scattered rain and possibly isolated thunderstorms.

Snowfall:
Snow will fall in mountainous areas of mainland Greece and Crete and semi-mountainous areas of Macedonia.

Winds:

  • West: Westerly 4-6 Beaufort, reaching 7 locally in southern seas, weakening later.
  • East: Southerly 4-6 Beaufort, up to 7-8 in the Aegean, shifting to northerly 4-6 Beaufort in central and northern regions.

Temperature:
A slight drop in maximum temperatures:

  • West, Central, North: Maximums 10-13°C (6-8°C in the northwest).
  • Other Areas: 13-16°C, up to 17°C in the Dodecanese.
  • Frost: Morning and evening frost, especially in northern inland areas.

Regional Weather Summaries

  1. Macedonia & Thrace:
    Cloudy with local rain; intense thunderstorms in the east in the morning, gradually easing. Snow in mountains and semi-mountainous areas.
  2. Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Sterea, Western Peloponnese:
    Cloudy with rain and occasional storms in the south. Snow in mountainous areas, easing later.
  3. Eastern Sterea, Evia, Eastern Peloponnese:
    Clouds increasing in the afternoon with rain, intensifying in Evia and eastern Sterea at night.
  4. Cyclades & Crete:
    Rain and scattered storms; intense in Crete until the afternoon.
  5. Aegean Islands & Dodecanese:
    Rain and scattered storms; intense until the afternoon.
  6. Thessaly:
    Cloudy with rain from midday, intensifying later.
  7. Attica:
    Periods of cloudiness with local rain and isolated morning thunderstorms, resuming later in the day.
  8. Thessaloniki:
    Cloudy with occasional rain.

Christmas Forecast

  • West Mainland & Ionian Islands:
    Partly cloudy with occasional rain.
  • East Mainland & Aegean:
    Increased clouds with rain and occasional coastal thunderstorms.

Snowfall:
Mountains and semi-mountainous areas in central and northern regions.

Winds:
North-northeast 4-6 Beaufort, strengthening in the northern Aegean.

Temperature:
Small drop in eastern mainland areas. Morning and evening frost inland, especially strong in the northwest.

Source: In.gr