Severe Winter Storms Grip Greece and Balkans, Triggering Widespread Alerts and Travel Disruptions

As of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Greece is confronting a significant weather event marked by intense snowfall, widespread freezing temperatures, ice accumulation, and powerful winds. This meteorological challenge is part of a larger pattern impacting the Balkan Peninsula, where deep low-pressure systems drawing on Mediterranean moisture have generated severe winter storms following a surge of Arctic air across Europe.

The Hellenic Civil Protection mechanism, coordinated by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis, has issued extensive warnings regarding hazardous road conditions and potential interruptions to essential services. Local authorities across northern and southern Greece, the Aegean, and the Ionian Sea have been placed on high alert, activating comprehensive operational plans. The most substantial disruptions are centered in the northern and semi-mountainous territories, with Thessaly and Macedonia reporting significant impact. Western Macedonia, along with the peripheral areas of Trikala, Karditsa, and Evrytania, is currently experiencing the most severe snow accumulation, following earlier weather events in January that had already prompted school closures in Metsovo and Trikala.

The geographical extent of the snowfall illustrates the system's intensity. In Thessaly, reports indicated snow depths exceeding 40 centimeters across the region. Further south, the Peloponnese recorded snow depths reaching 1.5 meters in the Chania area, with continuous snowfall projected. Even on the island of Rhodes, snowfall measured 30 centimeters in Lardos, leading to school closures there as well. In Thessaloniki, early morning snow resulted in the closure of the Chortiatis - Agios Vasileios road. In Epirus, continuous snowfall in mountainous zones compelled the Municipality of Metsovo to formally declare a state of emergency due to the volume of accumulated snow.

The national response has involved placing the Fire Service on general alert, with the Armed Forces, Police, and Coast Guard maintaining heightened readiness. The Risk Assessment Committee issued a Red Code warning for five regions, anticipating particularly strong rains and storms in the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia. To mitigate risks, the labor ministry introduced emergency measures for private-sector employees, while public-sector workers were permitted to remain home if travel was deemed unsafe, with weather-related absences justified.

Data from the National Observatory of Athens and meteo.gr indicated that by January 12, approximately 19% of Greece's land area was snow-covered, slightly exceeding the seasonal average following a powerful cold front after January 10. This event occurs against a backdrop of increasing weather volatility, as data from 2000 to 2025 shows a 72% increase in human fatalities from high-impact weather events in Greece. The activation of the 112 emergency system in southern districts, including Messinia, Laconia, Arcadia, Argolida, and Corinthia, urged residents to limit movement to only what was absolutely necessary through Wednesday afternoon.

The broader Balkan context reflects similar severity, with reports of heavy snow and rain swelling rivers in countries like Bosnia and Serbia earlier in the month. The current conditions, involving gale-force winds reaching up to Beaufort scale 10 in some areas, have also severely disrupted sea travel, with ferry services suspended to numerous islands including the Cyclades and Crete. The Rio-Antirio bridge, a critical link, was closed to heavy vehicles due to severe gusts. The ongoing instability is projected to persist through Thursday and Friday, with additional rain and isolated snowfall expected in northern mountainous regions.