Where schools will be closed on Wednesday due to the bad weather – Online classes for students

Frost, heavy rain, storms, gale-force winds, and even hail are expected to sweep across the country from Wednesday morning (January 21), with the National Meteorological Service issuing an alert for the upcoming bad weather by issuing an extraordinary severe weather warning.

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection placed the following five regions of the country under a Red Code alert from Wednesday to Thursday (January 21-22):

• Attica
• Peloponnese
• Central Greece
• Thessaly
• Western Macedonia

In this context, Municipalities and Regions are deciding whether to suspend school operations, while restricting movements to essential ones in these areas.

Schools Closed in Attica

According to a decision by the Regional Governor, Nikos Hardalias, all public and private primary and secondary schools, as well as night schools, will remain closed. Additionally, daycare centers and kindergartens will also remain closed.

As mentioned in the announcement, this decision was made to protect students and staff from the risks that could arise from traveling to and from schools, as heavy rainfall is expected after noon, with a high intensity.

Detailed Announcement from the Attica Region

According to a decision by Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias and following the recommendations from the Risk Assessment Committee, Civil Protection, and the National Meteorological Service (EMY), all public and private primary and secondary schools, as well as night schools, will remain closed for precautionary reasons on Wednesday, January 21.

This decision was made to protect students and educational staff from the risks that could arise from traveling to and from schools, as severe rainfall is expected, starting from noon and continuing through the afternoon.

In his statements, Governor Nikos Hardalias emphasized:

“Recently, Attica was placed under a red alert. Therefore, taking into account meteorological models and the recommendations of the Risk Assessment Committee, Civil Protection, and EMY, we have decided to close the schools in Attica for tomorrow, Wednesday.

The phenomena are expected to be particularly intense from noon onwards, with strong storms, high winds, and more rainfall than before. What worries us is not the amount of rainfall but its intensity – a large amount of rain in a short amount of time.

Classes will not be lost. We are using online education to limit movements, particularly during the critical hours of the storms, as the Attica Region alone carries out 1,910 trips daily for over 32,000 students.

We respect family schedules, but we are aware of the weaknesses in older infrastructure, and we choose to act proactively.

Because our responsibility toward our children is clear, and it does not tolerate risks. When it comes to their safety, we must be one step ahead.”

It is noted that, following the Governor’s instructions, the entire Civil Protection mechanism in the region has been on high alert since early Tuesday morning to assist, if needed, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, which holds overall responsibility for the design of the weather crisis response. The Regional Civil Protection Coordination Bodies (PESOPP) are already in session in all regional units of the Attica basin to prepare for issues related to flood risks.

Schools Closed in Piraeus

All schools and daycare centers in the Municipality of Piraeus will remain closed on Wednesday, January 21, due to the severe weather conditions.

Following the decision of the Attica Region, all public and private primary and secondary schools, as well as night schools, will remain closed in Piraeus, as well as throughout Attica, for the safety and protection of students and educational staff.

Additionally, by decision of the Municipality of Piraeus, daycare centers in the municipality will also remain closed.

Schools Closed in Patras

Meanwhile, the Department of Education in the Municipality of Patras has suspended school operations for primary and secondary schools in the municipal units of Rio and the Arctic District from the Kannelopoulos Street to Rio (including Sychaia, Vounteine, etc.) on Wednesday, January 21.

According to the Municipality’s announcement:

RION MUNICIPAL UNIT

Experimental High School of the University of Patras, Experimental Lyceum of the University of Patras, G.E.L. Kastiritsiou, G.E.L. Rio, St. Basil’s Junior High School, Kastiritsi Junior High School, Rio Junior High School, 1st Nursery of Rio, 2nd Nursery of Rio, Special Kindergarten for the Blind, University of Patras Kindergarten, Upper Kastiritsi Kindergarten, Lower Kastiritsi Kindergarten, St. Basil’s Kindergarten, Aktaiou Kindergarten, Arachovitika Kindergarten, Drepanou Kindergarten, Psathopyrgos Kindergarten, Sellon Kindergarten, 2-class Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, 8-class Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, St. Basil’s Primary School, Arachovitika Primary School, Upper Kastiritsi Primary School, Lower Kastiritsi Primary School, Aktaiou Primary School, Drepanou Primary School, Rio Primary School, Sellon Primary School.

ARCTIC DISTRICT

Special School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Special Kindergarten for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 38th Nursery, 43rd Nursery, 49th Nursery, 65th Nursery, 48th Nursery, 43rd Primary School, 49th Primary School, 40th Primary School, 43 Primary School, 59th Primary School, 62nd Primary School, EEEEK Achaia, 13th Junior High School, 9th High School.

“The decision to suspend the operation of these schools was made due to the severe weather conditions, including gale-force winds that are causing tree falls, power outages, etc.

The Civil Protection and the Municipality workers have been intervening since this morning in cases of tree falls, clearing branches, taking measures to ensure pedestrian and vehicle safety, and restoring traffic.

All Municipality services remain on high alert to intervene as needed for the new wave of storms, expected to hit the area from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning,” the Municipality of Patras points out.

Schools Closed in Argolis, Laconia, Corinthia, and Arcadia

By decision of the relevant Deputy Governors and following the recommendations of the Risk Assessment Committee, Civil Protection, and the EMY, all primary and secondary schools, as well as social structures, will remain closed for precautionary reasons on Wednesday, January 21, in the Regional Units of Argolis, Corinthia, and Laconia.

In the Regional Unit of Arcadia, the decision to suspend the operation of schools affects the municipalities of North and South Kynouria.

“The decision was made with the aim of protecting students and educational staff due to the severe weather phenomena expected, with heavy rain and storms that may complicate travel to and from the schools,” the Peloponnese Region points out.

Schools Closed in Messolonghi

By decision of the Mayor, the operation of all school units at all levels of education in the Municipality of Messolonghi (daycares and nurseries, K.D.A.P., elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, evening schools, SDE, SAEC, etc.) will be suspended on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The decision was made due to the dangerous weather conditions in place, with the goal of ensuring the safety of students, educational staff, and other school personnel.

Schools Closed in Amfilochia

The Municipality of Amfilochia announces that due to the National Meteorological Service’s forecasts for very strong winds in the area of the D.E. Inachos, the operation of primary and secondary schools in D.E. Inachos (Kindergartens, Elementary Schools, Junior High School, and High School of Empesou), the Municipal Nursery of Empesou, and the Elementary School of Varetadas in the Municipality of Amfilochia will be suspended on Wednesday, January 21.

Online Classes for Schools Closed Due to Severe Weather Conditions

The Ministry of Education, Religion & Sports announces that, in cases where school operations are suspended by the decision of the Regional Governor or Mayor due to severe weather conditions or extraordinary events, the educational process will continue with online classes, where feasible.

Given that some Municipalities may issue suspension decisions at any time, online education will be activated immediately to ensure the continuation of the educational process and the smooth functioning of the school system.

Regional Education Directorates have already been informed by the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Giannis Papadomarkakis, and are collaborating with schools to implement the process where conditions allow.

The Ministry is monitoring the development of the weather phenomena and remains on standby to support the educational community.

Extraordinary Severe Weather Warning

A. Strong rain and storms are expected early Wednesday morning in many areas of central and southern Greece and in the Aegean from Wednesday afternoon.

B. Heavy snow is expected on Wednesday in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of mainland Greece and in some areas of Thessaly and Macedonia with low elevation.

C. Gale-force winds will also be present.

More specifically:

A. Heavy rain and storms are expected in:

• Peloponnese (mainly in Messinia, Laconia, Argolis, and Corinthia) on Wednesday until the afternoon.
• Eastern Central Greece and Euboea on Wednesday from morning until evening.
• Attica from noon to evening on Wednesday.
• Thessaly, the Sporades, and the Cyclades from Wednesday afternoon.
• Northern and Eastern Aegean islands from late Wednesday night until Thursday morning.
• Dodecanese on Thursday until noon.

The phenomena will be particularly intense and pose greater danger in Eastern and Southern Peloponnese, Attica, Euboea, the Sporades, the Northern and Eastern Aegean islands, and the Dodecanese.

B. Heavy snow is expected on Wednesday:

• Until noon in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the Peloponnese (mainly Arcadia, Achaia, and Corinthia).
• Until the afternoon in mountainous areas of Epirus, Central Greece, and Western Greece.
• In Thessaly, in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, and in some lowlands until the afternoon.
• In Western Macedonia until the afternoon.
• In Central Macedonia from noon until the evening.
• In the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Eastern Macedonia and the mountainous areas of Thrace in the afternoon and evening. The snow will be particularly intense in Western Macedonia and the regional units of Trikala, Karditsa, and Evrytania.

C. Gale-force southeastern winds (8 to 9 Beaufort) will blow until Wednesday noon in the Northern Ionian and until Thursday morning in the Southern and Central Aegean.