Nearly 5,000 lightning strikes were recorded since morning – with significant rainfall in Crete and Rhodes.

Local rain and thunderstorms occurred over much of the country on Friday, 25/04, with a focus on Crete and Rhodes.

Data analysis from the European meteorological satellite Meteosat-12 revealed that by 18:10 on Friday, 25/04, nearly 5,000 lightning strikes (electrical discharges) had been recorded, with the majority occurring in Crete and Rhodes.

According to the data presented by the National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr, 2,619 lightning strikes hit land and 2,357 struck the sea.

As per the network of automatic weather stations from the National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr, until 18:10 on Friday, 25/04, the highest rainfall was recorded at the weather station in Lindos, Rhodes (79 mm), while significant local rainfall was also recorded in Crete, with the highest rainfall being at the weather station in Plakias, Rethymno (61 mm).

Weather Forecast for Saturday

Local rain and thunderstorms are mainly predicted for the warm hours of the day in the mainland for tomorrow, Saturday, while winds will be blowing at a strength of 4-5 Beaufort in the seas.

More specifically, on Saturday, April 26, transient clouds are expected to be more pronounced with local rain and thunderstorms, primarily during the warm hours of the day in the mainland. There is a chance of local rain or thunderstorms in Crete and Rhodes. Thunderstorms in central and northern mainland areas may be accompanied by small hail falls.

Temperature ranges are expected to be as follows: in Western Macedonia, from 7 to 18 degrees Celsius; in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace, from 5 to 25 degrees Celsius; in Thessaly, from 5 to 23 degrees Celsius; in Epirus, from 5 to 21 degrees Celsius; in the remaining mainland areas, from 7 to 23 degrees Celsius; in the Ionian Islands, from 9 to 20 degrees Celsius; and in the Aegean Islands and Crete, from 8 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Winds in the Central and Northern Aegean will blow from various directions with intensities of up to 2-3 Beaufort, while in the Southern Aegean, winds will generally blow from western directions with intensities of up to 4-5 Beaufort. In the Ionian Sea, winds will blow from western-northwestern directions with intensities of up to 2-3 Beaufort, and locally in the southern parts up to 4 Beaufort.

In Attica, transient clouds with local rain and thunderstorms are expected, primarily during the warm hours of the day. Winds will blow from various directions with intensities of up to 2-3 Beaufort. The temperature is expected to range from 15 to 21-23 degrees Celsius.

In Thessaloniki, transient clouds with a chance of local rain and thunderstorms are anticipated. Winds will blow from various directions with intensities of up to 2 Beaufort. The temperature is expected to range from 15 to 21-22 degrees Celsius.