This year’s Christmas will come with the right kind of weather, meaning cold temperatures, rain in the lowlands, and snow in the mountains of the north and even at lower elevations.

The weather has begun aligning with the holiday spirit, as despite the rain and storms that occurred on Friday and Saturday, conditions are improving today, Sunday, December 22. The weather will be more favorable, while some mountainous areas in Greece have already started seeing the first snow, especially in the northern regions.

From Monday, December 23, meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas warns of a new wave of rain, storms, and snow, particularly in parts of Northern Greece, such as Macedonia, Thrace, areas of Western Greece, and at lower altitudes in Kastoria.

Weather evolution until Christmas

Today, Sunday (12/22), the weather will improve overall, though light, short-duration local showers might occur, mainly in the south. Winds will blow northwest at 4-6 Beaufort, gradually weakening. Temperatures will remain low, especially in terms of minimum values (frost expected at night and early morning in the interior of mainland Greece).

On Monday (12/23), a new atmospheric disturbance moving from northwestern Europe toward the region will bring a new cycle of rain, local thunderstorms, snowfall (in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas), and strong winds.

During Tuesday (12/24), significant phenomena will gradually be limited to eastern and southern Greece, where they will persist through Christmas Day. Temperatures will remain relatively low.

On Christmas Eve, the west, northeast, islands of the eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and Crete will experience clouds with rain and scattered thunderstorms, which will be locally intense in the morning in eastern regions.

Shops open with good weather today

It’s worth noting that today, Sunday, commercial stores will remain open, operating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., while retail chains and department stores will stay open until 8 p.m.

Forecast from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS)

Forecast for Sunday, 22-12-2024
General Characteristics
The weather is expected to improve overall, with a few local showers mainly in western, eastern island regions, eastern Macedonia, and Thrace. Isolated thunderstorms might develop in the afternoon and evening hours in Crete, the eastern Aegean islands, and the Dodecanese.

Light snowfalls are expected in the northern mountainous regions.

Winds will blow from the north-northwest at 3-5 Beaufort and up to 6 in the southern Aegean in the early morning, later shifting to west-southwest with the same intensity.

Temperatures will reach 8-12°C in the north, 13-15°C in other areas, and locally 16-17°C in the south. Frost will occur in northern mainland areas in the early morning and evening hours.

Forecast for Monday, 23-12-2024
Clouds will gradually increase, bringing rain and scattered thunderstorms early in the morning in the Ionian, Epirus, western Macedonia, and western Greece; by noon, these conditions will extend to the Peloponnese, western Thessaly, and central Greece. By evening, they will have spread throughout the country. The phenomena will be intense in western areas and locally strong in eastern regions later in the day.

Snowfall will occur in the mountainous areas of mainland Greece, especially in central and northern parts, with dense snow expected in Epirus and Macedonia.

Winds will blow from the west-southwest, gradually shifting to the south-southwest in the Aegean, at 4-6 Beaufort and increasing to 7-8 in open waters. By evening, winds in western areas will shift northwest at the same strength.

Temperatures will rise slightly during the day, reaching 9-13°C in the north (4-6°C lower in northwestern areas), 14-16°C elsewhere, and 17-19°C in the Cyclades, Crete, and the Dodecanese. Frost will occur in the morning and evening in central and northern regions, especially in mountainous areas.

Forecast for Tuesday, 24-12-2024 (Christmas Eve)
In western, northeastern, eastern Aegean islands, the Dodecanese, Cyclades, and Crete, clouds will bring rain and scattered thunderstorms, locally intense in eastern areas during the morning. Elsewhere, the weather will be unsettled with occasional showers.

Snowfall will occur in mountainous parts of mainland Greece, particularly in central and northern regions.

Winds will blow from the west-northwest in the west and from the west-southwest in eastern regions at 4-6 Beaufort, locally reaching 7 in the seas. Gradually, winds will weaken in the afternoon.

Temperatures will drop, especially in western, central, and northern regions, where they will not exceed 9-12°C. Elsewhere, they will range from 13-15°C and 16-17°C in southeastern areas. Frost is expected during early morning and evening hours in central and northern mainland areas, intensifying in mountainous regions.

Forecast for Wednesday, 25-12-2024 (Christmas Day)
Unstable weather will prevail across most regions with passing clouds and occasional local showers in central and northeastern areas, the Ionian, Peloponnese, and Aegean islands, where isolated thunderstorms may also occur.

Light snowfalls are expected in mountainous regions of mainland Greece and Crete.

Winds will initially blow from the northwest at 3-5 Beaufort in western regions, gradually shifting to the east. In eastern areas, they will start as northwest, shifting to north-northeast at 4-6 Beaufort, and locally 7 in the northern Aegean.

Temperatures will drop slightly further, reaching 8-10°C in central and northern areas and 14-16°C in southern regions. Frost will occur in mainland areas during early morning and evening hours, particularly strong in the north.