“Deborah”: Sudden weather shift brings heavy storms and falling temperatures

The weather pattern is set to change abruptly, with rain and thunderstorms expected to impact most regions of the country. Temperatures are also expected to drop below normal levels for the season.

Meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas referred in a post yesterday to a new low-pressure system named “Deborah.”

As he noted in a series of posts, forecast data indicate that “from Thursday evening and from the west, the weather will gradually deteriorate, with rain and thunderstorms that by the weekend will spread to most parts of the country. Snowfall is also expected in mountainous areas, as colder air masses from northwestern Europe move toward our country and may affect the Mediterranean even into the first ten days of April.”

According to Mr. Kolydas, “the first days of April may have a more wintry than spring-like character. It is even possible that in lowland areas of mainland Greece, temperatures may locally drop below zero, mainly early in the morning.”

He also emphasized that the low-pressure system named DEBORAH “requires attention and, in my assessment, may even cause thunderstorms in Athens on Thursday afternoon.”

“Based on the ENS meteogram for Athens, on Friday (27/3) the maximum possible 6-hour precipitation may reach about 10 to 14 mm, but the most likely scenario is significantly lower, around 2 to 6 mm per 6 hours. On Wednesday (1/4), the most notable deterioration is expected, with maximum 6-hour totals of about 25 to 35 mm, and on Thursday (2/4) also intense phenomena in some scenarios, with peaks near 30–33 mm per 6 hours.”

LIVE: How the severe weather is unfolding

HNMS Forecast

Forecast for Friday, March 27, 2026

Clouds will be temporarily increased with local rain across most of the country. Isolated thunderstorms will occur in the Ionian Sea, mainly in western and northern mainland areas, gradually in the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese, and temporarily in the Cyclades and possibly Crete. Phenomena in the west, north, and eastern Aegean may be locally intense for short periods. By evening, the weather will improve in most areas except Thrace and the eastern Aegean.

Snowfall will occur in mountainous mainland areas and in semi-mountainous areas of Epirus.

Winds will blow from the south-southwest at 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally up to 7, weakening from the afternoon.

Temperature will drop mainly in the west and north (14–16°C), while in other areas it will reach 17–18°C and locally 19°C in the Dodecanese.

Macedonia, Thrace

Cloudy with rain and scattered thunderstorms. Phenomena may be strong at times in Macedonia until the afternoon and in Thrace from midday. Snow in mountainous areas of Macedonia.
Winds: Initially east-southeast 4–6 Beaufort, turning south-southwest 3–5.
Temperature: 7–15/16°C (4–5°C lower in western Macedonia).

Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Central Greece, Western Peloponnese

Cloudy with rain and scattered thunderstorms, possibly strong until afternoon. Snow in mountainous areas and semi-mountainous parts of Epirus.
Winds: South-southwest 5–7 Beaufort, turning westerly 4–5 after midday.
Temperature: 6–14°C (4–5°C lower inland Epirus).

Thessaly, Eastern Central Greece, Evia, Eastern Peloponnese

Cloudy with intermittent rain and thunderstorms, improving late afternoon. Strong phenomena possible in southern Peloponnese. Snow in mountainous areas.
Winds: South-southwest 4–6 Beaufort, locally 7 in the south.
Temperature: 6–15°C.

Cyclades, Crete

Partly cloudy with local rain and temporary thunderstorms (mainly in the Cyclades midday–afternoon). Improvement in Crete later.
Winds: South-southwest 5–7 Beaufort, weakening later.
Temperature: 11–18°C.

Eastern Aegean Islands – Dodecanese

Increasing clouds with local rain and thunderstorms from midday. Phenomena may be locally intense in the eastern Aegean from afternoon.
Winds: South-southwest 4–6 Beaufort, locally 7 in the north.
Temperature: 11–19°C.

Attica

Clouds increasing at times, mainly midday–afternoon with rain and scattered thunderstorms.
Winds: South-southwest 4–6 Beaufort, up to 7 in eastern areas.
Temperature: 7–16°C.

Thessaloniki

Cloudy with rain and scattered thunderstorms, possibly strong around midday.
Winds: Southerly 4–5 Beaufort, locally 6 at midday.
Temperature: 7–14/15°C.

Forecast for Saturday, March 28, 2026

Clouds with local rain and isolated thunderstorms in western, southern, and eastern Aegean areas. Elsewhere, partly cloudy with local showers mainly in northern mainland areas in the afternoon. Snow in mountainous regions.
Winds: Variable (southwesterly in the east, northwesterly in the west) 3–5 Beaufort, locally 6.
Temperature: No significant change.

Forecast for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Partly cloudy with local rain and isolated storms (mainly in Crete, Cyclades, eastern Aegean until midday). Improvement later, with phenomena limited to eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and eastern Aegean.
Light snow in mountains.
Winds: Westerly–northwesterly 3–5 Beaufort, locally up to 7 in southern seas.
Temperature: No significant change.

Forecast for Monday, March 30, 2026

Clouds with local rain in eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and eastern Aegean until afternoon. Elsewhere generally clear.
Winds: Westerly–northwesterly 3–5 Beaufort.
Temperature: Rising.

Forecast for Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Increasing clouds with local rain or showers across most regions and thunderstorms in the west from afternoon. Snow in mountainous areas.
Winds: South-southeast 3–5 Beaufort, locally 6 in the south.
Temperature: Rising in southern areas.