A Pi-shaped storm is bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible hail to western and northern Greece and the eastern Aegean islands, after the national weather service issued an emergency warning.
The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) issued the emergency bulletin on Saturday 31 October. It warns of severe weather from the early hours of Sunday 1 November until at least Monday 2 November.
Forecasters say a low-pressure system moving from Italy towards Greece is driving the change. It carries organised bands of rain and thunderstorms.
Where the Pi-shaped storm hits first
On Sunday, locally heavy rain and storms are forecast for the Ionian Islands until midday. Epirus, western Central Greece and the western and southern Peloponnese face storms until the afternoon.
Read more: Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms and Gale Force Winds Forecast Across Greece
Central and eastern Macedonia expect storms from the morning until late at night. The northern and eastern Aegean islands follow from the afternoon, and the Dodecanese from the afternoon onwards.
On Monday, the Ionian Islands again face storms at intervals from the morning. Epirus, western Central Greece and the western Peloponnese expect more from the afternoon until late at night. The Dodecanese see storms at intervals until the evening.
Why forecasters call it a Pi-shaped storm
Under a Pi-shaped storm, the worst weather traces a shape like the Greek letter Π across the map. It runs down the west, across Macedonia and Thrace, then down through the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.
Proto Thema meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafyllias said the Pi-shaped storm could last until Tuesday 3 November. Rain should first hit western Greece, he said, before the worst moves towards Macedonia, Thrace and the eastern Aegean.
Attica is not among the high-risk areas for now. Local showers are still possible in the Athens basin, Tsatrafyllias said, but no major deterioration is expected there.
According to the Civil Protection ministry, services are on heightened alert. The main concern is flash flooding where large amounts of rain fall in a short time.
Residents should take care when travelling, avoid streams and flooded crossings, and follow official updates. The warning comes days after red warnings and flooding hit Attica around 28 October.
