Greek municipalities in the northern and central parts of the country are on alert, amidst a weather change with a cold front sweeping down from the north that began to affect Greece on Saturday.
According to Greek state TV meteorologist, ERT’s N. Ziakopoulou, snowfall was expected to peak on Sunday in cities across the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace prefecture, as well as the regions of Epirus and Thessaly.
Kastoria, Florina, Kozani and Ptolemaida are among the cities already experiencing below zero temperatures.
Elsewhere, the cold snap has made temperatures plunge by 8-10C and brought gale-force northerly winds in the Aegean and strong rain and storms in coastal areas.
Meanwhile, the Risk Assessment Committee, created a week ago as a result of legislation restructuring the civil protection service in December, held its first session on Friday.
The meeting was attended by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias and Deputy Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas, as well as civil protection general secretary Vasilis Papegeorgiou, the new fire brigade chief, the head of the National Meteorological Service Theodoros Kolydas, the director of research at the National Observatory of Athens Konstantinos Lagouvardos, the President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP) Efthymios Lekkas and meteorologists Dimitris Ziakopoulos and Christina Souzi.
The civil protection service has advised the Greek public to exercise particular caution this weekend, with residents of affected areas encouraged to avoid non-essential movement and use snow chains for their vehicles.
with Athens-Macedonian News Agency
