Five Regions on Red Alert Over Severe Weather

The Risk Assessment Committee met on Tuesday morning (20 January) in the presence of the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis. The meeting focused on the severe weather system expected from Wednesday morning until Thursday midday, bringing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, locally intense snowfall, and, in some areas, gale-force winds.

According to the scientists of the Committee, which was convened by the Secretary General for Civil Protection, Nikos Papaefstathiou:

a. On Wednesday, very heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in eastern and southern Peloponnese (mainly Messinia, Laconia, Argolida and Corinthia), eastern Central Greece (Sterea Ellada), Evia, Attica, eastern Thessaly and the Sporades. From Wednesday evening through to Thursday midday, the phenomena will affect the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean as well as the Dodecanese.

b. Snowfall is expected on Wednesday in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of mainland Greece and will be particularly heavy, even at lower elevations, in western Thessaly and western Macedonia (mainly Trikala, Karditsa and Evrytania).

c. Gale-force winds of 8 to 9 Beaufort are expected in places, until Wednesday midday in the northern Ionian Sea, and until Thursday morning in the southern and central Aegean.

For this reason, following the Emergency Weather Warning (EWW) issued by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) and the meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection has placed the following regions under a state of mobilisation (Red Code) from Wednesday through Thursday:

• Attica
• Peloponnese
• Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
• Thessaly
• Western Macedonia

Within this framework, municipalities and regional authorities are being called on to immediately convene the Local Operational Civil Protection Coordination Bodies (TESOPP) and the Regional Operational Civil Protection Coordination Bodies (PESOPP). At the same time, residents in these areas are advised to limit travel to strictly essential movements only.

As announced by the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the National Crisis Management and Operations Coordination Centre (ESKEDIK) is already in communication with first- and second-level local authorities, as well as with all relevant agencies, to ensure full awareness of the upcoming weather phenomena and to be ready to move into operational action if required.

It is also recalled that, under current legislation, drivers are required to carry appropriate anti-skid equipment

It is also recalled that, under current legislation, drivers are required to carry appropriate anti-skid equipment in their vehicles.

Finally, it should be noted that the possibility of schools in Attica remaining closed is under consideration, with a decision expected to be announced within the next few minutes.