Due to the bad weather two people have already lost their lives in Lemnos. In particular, a 57-year-old livestock farmer was found dead when he was swept away by stream waters in Kontias district, and a little later, another resident of Kontias village lost his life when he slipped while clearing waters. who invaded his home.
As of Saturday morning, the heavy rain caused problems with flooded roads and swollen streams in Rhodes and Volos, while strong winds caused downed trees in Thessaloniki.
At the same time, messages came in succession from 112 about extreme weather phenomena. Residents of Attica, Rhodes, Lemnos and Central Macedonia and Thessaly have received messages, and the Fire Service received 294 calls to transport people, cut trees and pump water in Central macedonia, Lemnos, chios and Rhodes.
Rain torrent in Rhodes
The Fire service has received more than 15 calls to pump water, mainly from flooded basements Rhodes.
the problems mainly related to flooded roads and swollen streams and rivers are located in the northwestern part of the island and mainly from Ialyssos to Kremasti and Damatria. in fact,in the Kremasti area,the Fire Department freed two people from a car.
The Self-reliant Office of Civil Protection of the Municipality of Rhodes has issued a new notice which “appeals to the residents of the areas of Ialyssos, Pastidas, Maritsa and Damatria to stay in their homes and avoid any movement, within and to/from the above regions. Vehicular and pedestrian movement is considered unsafe due to the severe flooding that has occurred. Please follow the instructions and recommendations. EveryoneS safety is our priority.”
The bad weather hit “Bora” in Crete as well
The Civil Protection mechanism is also on alert in Crete as the storm has just broken out of Crete bad weather “Bora”things got hard.
Such as cretalive reportsthe intensity of the rain was getting heavier and heavier as a result of which shops and houses were flooded. Drivers should take extra care as the rain reduces visibility and makes the road slippery.
Stormy winds forced a plane to return from Chania to Athens
An Aegean flight bound for Chania had to return to “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport due to the stormy winds blowing on Saturday evening (11/30). The bad weather phenomena that are part of the bad weather of Bora hit almost the whole island of crete from midday and did not allow the a plane landing at Chania airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis”.
The flight scheduled for 17:00 left on time,but on the way it was considered impossible to land at Chania airport. The reason was the bad weather prevailing in the area, which makes the approach risky, according to the zarpanews.gr.
trees were blown down by the strong winds in Thessaloniki – Dendropotamos bridge collapsed
Strong winds they beat on Thessalonicawhich caused them to be noticed a tree falls in the center of the city, but also in other areas due to the bad weather that is hitting the country.
So far the fire department has received 17 calls for downed trees, two calls for removal and two calls for pumping water, as the rain continues.
Earlier, 112 was called on the mobile phones of the residents of Thessaloniki, warning of dangerous weather conditions, with gale force winds and heavy rain.
Moreover, earlier, the Dendropotamos bridge in Thessaloniki, which was recently closed for work, collapsed.
Now, both streams are closed as a precaution, and only one was closed.
thirty-five passengers were rescued on a tourist bus that got stuck on the road from the monastery Panagia to KleisouraKastoria Fire Service went ahead, at noon on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
According to ERT information, the tourist bus started from Arabissos Giannitsson, traveling to Kastoria. During the route, they visited the Monastery of Panagia in Kleisoura, where they were trapped due to the lack of anti-skid chains and winter tires and due to the heavy snowfall that has been prevailing for the past few hours.
The Kastoria Fire service and the Police were immediately informed, and the teams rushed to the scene and first released the passengers and transported them to taverns in the village, with the help of farm cars, the inhabitants of Kleisoura.
Water entered Volos Hospital from the ceiling
The heavy rain that brought bad weather Bora,created problems in Volos and specifically in the city hospital.
According to the local website “The Newspaper.gr”, since early evening the central corridor of the Pathology clinic on the 7th floor of “Achillopouleion” is filled with water and the transfer team is collecting the quantities of water passing by . through the ceiling into buckets, so as not to flood the inside of the clinic.
About the same picture in the Emergency Department of the local hospital.
Problems caused by rain are not the first time the Hospital has seen them. And in previous severe storms, ”Achillopouleio” clinics and facilities have been damaged by floods.
The meteorologists warned
In category 5 as “large” classified the weather phenomena which is already affecting the country causing flooding phenomena in different regions of the country.
according to meteo.gr, on the two days Saturday 30/11 and Sunday 01/12, very high levels of rain are expected in places in The Eastern Teaselin the prefectures of Pieria, Imathia, Pella, Halkidiki and possibly in the Sporades and western Crete. There will be significant rainfall in many other areas.
According to the rain episode classification (RPI), implemented by the Meteo unit of the National Observatory of athens, the expected rain episode is classified in Category 5 (Real).
Course of bad weather
In detail, according to the meteo, in the next few hours the following are expected:
- In the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday 30/11 storm frontextending from Central Macedonia to Western Crete, it will affect many areas in Macedonia and the eastern mainland with strong local effects.
- Strong phenomena will occur locally from late evening onwards prefecture of Attica and the city of Athens.
- Northeasterly storm winds will prevail in the North Aegean, at Thermal and in the areas of macedonia (mainly Halkidiki, Thessaloniki and Pieria) from the evening of Saturday 30/11
- During the night to Sunday 01/12 the front of the storms will affect most of the islands in the Aegean and will have a strong impact.
- She was Sunday 01/12 the bad weather will continue almost throughout the country, and strong storms will also occur in the Dodecanese.
Marousakis: “Lailapa of storms”
According to the forecast of Clearchos Marousakis, from the beginning of Kyriaki, heavy rain will affect the eastern mainland, such as the eastern Peloponnese, Attikovotia, Evia, northeastern Thessaly, central macedonia and Crete.
As the meteorologist of the Open indicated, a “flash” of storms is expected that will last for a long time but of a small width that will bring heavy rain with a huge volume of water and hail.
Klearchos Marousakis attracts attention, as until the beginning of Sunday it will be the most dangerous zone in terms of severe weather phenomena, with attica in the middle.
Until midday on Sunday, the wave of bad weather will move towards the eastern and western Aegean, with strong storms in the Sporades and Cyclades.
“Southern storms on the coast of Attica from the evening”
Meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafylias warns of stormy southerlies this afternoon until dawn.
Earlier Mr. Tsatraphyllias drew attention to dangerous phenomena in Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Pieria, Imathia, Larissa.
His post in detail:
“Good morning. I ask for your attention. Halkidiki-Thessaloniki-Pieria-Imathia-Larissa remain ‘dangerous’ areas from this evening until Sunday morning.
Also from the night to noon tomorrow,local storms from the very strong North South winds 9-10 Beaufort will occur in the Thracian Sea,in Halkidiki and neighboring areas,in Thermaikos,Platamonas and neighboring coastal areas up to the Mages beach.
Attica: Today in the late afternoon (after 19.00) there will be local storms from time to time until the early hours of Sunday several times, due to the characteristics of the region, I do not rule out small problems”.
Arnautoglou: Strong and dangerous wind in thessaloniki
The weather forecaster,Sakis Arnautoglou,talks about extreme phenomena that will hit thessaloniki,advising the residents not to ignore the stormy winds.
“From tonight (Saturday) and until the morning-afternoon hours of Sunday 1/12 in the area of Thessaloniki and the neighboring areas (see the map with purple colors) as well as the heavy rain, do not overestimate the dangerous possibilities . the heavy east – northeast winds that will reach gusts 9-10 and locally 11 Beaufort”, he says features in his post.
– How is climate change influencing extreme weather patterns in Greece?
Interview: The Impact of Extreme Weather in Greece
Editor of Time.news: Thank you for joining us today, Dr.Eleni Stavrou, a noted meteorologist and climate researcher. The recent extreme weather events in Greece have had devastating effects—particularly,the loss of lives and countless floods. What can you tell us about the current situation?
dr. Eleni Stavrou: Thank you for having me. Yes, the reports are indeed grim. The recent storms, part of what’s being referred too as the “Bora” system, have severely impacted multiple regions, including Lemnos and Rhodes. tragically, we’ve seen lives lost—two individuals in Lemnos alone were caught off guard by rapidly rising waters.
Editor: It’s heart-wrenching to hear about the fatalities. Can you explain the factors contributing to such extreme weather phenomena?
Dr. Stavrou: Certainly. Greece, like many parts of the world, is experiencing more frequent and intense weather events. Climate change is a important factor, leading to heavier rainfall over shorter periods, which overwhelms drainage systems and leads to flooding.We’re also seeing increased wind speeds, which can cause additional hazards, such as downed trees and structural damage—illustrated by the recent collapse of the Dendropotamos bridge in Thessaloniki.
Editor: Flooding seems to be a recurring issue. I read that residents in certain areas were advised to stay indoors. What should communities be doing to prepare for such events?
Dr.Stavrou: It’s crucial for local authorities to have robust emergency response systems. Communication is key—keeping the public informed through alerts like “112” can save lives. Communities should also invest in infrastructure improvements to manage stormwater better. Such as, enhancing drainage systems and creating more green spaces can help absorb rainwater.
Editor: You mentioned infrastructure struggles earlier. I was shocked to learn that water seeped into Volos Hospital. How can critical facilities like hospitals better prepare for such deluges?
Dr. Stavrou: Hospitals, being essential services, must have contingency plans. This includes waterproofing areas prone to flooding, installing backflow prevention systems, and ensuring that emergency operations can function during crises. The goal is to minimize disruption to patient care,as we saw with water entering the Achillopouleion hospital.
Editor: As we look ahead, what predictions can we make regarding weather patterns in Greece? Will such extreme weather events become more common?
Dr. Stavrou: based on current trends in climate science, we can expect these phenomena to continue. Areas like Eastern Thessaly and parts of Crete are due for significant rainfall, putting them at risk. The challenge will be adapting to these changes—both in terms of immediate response and long-term infrastructural resilience.
Editor: what message would you like to convey to the public about resilience in the face of climate challenges?
Dr. Stavrou: Awareness is vital. Individuals should stay informed about local weather alerts and be prepared for sudden changes, particularly during storm seasons.Community engagement in preparedness activities—such as developing personal emergency plans—can make a significant difference. By working together and supporting each other,we can enhance our resilience to these extreme weather events.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Stavrou, for sharing your expertise with us today. Your insights underscore the importance of preparedness and community reliance in tackling the challenges posed by climate change.
Dr. Stavrou: Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for safer conditions ahead.