Greece is bracing for a prolonged spell of autumn weather starting Friday, with temperatures dropping by as much as 6–8°C and heavy rainfall expected over the weekend, according to meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafyllias.

Temperatures next week will remain cool for the season, not exceeding 24–25°C. From Saturday night through Sunday afternoon, strong storms are forecast to sweep across western Greece.

“If the bulk of the rainfall doesn’t fall over the sea, there’s a real risk of flooding or landslides in vulnerable areas,” Tsatrafyllias noted, pointing to the western and central Peloponnese, central and southern Ionian islands, and Aetolia-Acarnania as the most at-risk regions.

Athens, Thrace, and much of the Aegean are expected to see little or no impact.

Meteorologists Sound the Alarm

Tsatrafyllias described the weather shift as the result of “Rex blocking,” a rare atmospheric pattern that often brings extended unsettled conditions. He outlined three key takeaways:

• From Friday, September 26, temperatures will drop by up to 8°C, with daytime highs capped at 24–25°C. “Time to bring out the light jackets,” he quipped.
• Friday and Saturday will bring strong northerly winds in the Aegean, reaching up to 8 Beaufort.
• Saturday night to Sunday afternoon: severe thunderstorms are expected in western Greece, with flooding possible if rainfall is concentrated inland.

By Sunday, September 28, and Monday, September 29, rainfall will spread to the rest of mainland Greece and Crete — though these showers are expected to be “beneficial and harmless.”

Meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas added that the country is finally experiencing its proti vrochiá — the “first rains of autumn” — albeit later than usual. He warned that western Greece, in particular, “needs a little extra attention” due to the risk of heavy downpours.

A Taste of Winter in the Mornings

Temperatures have already dipped into single digits in parts of the mainland this week, with Wednesday morning seeing lows close to seasonal norms across much of the country, according to data from the National Observatory of Athens.

Today’s Forecast

• Northern Greece: 14–30°C (Western Macedonia: 6–27°C)
• Epirus: 12–29°C
• Thessaly: 10–32°C
• Ionian Islands: 17–28°C
• Central Greece & Peloponnese: 17–31°C
• Aegean Islands: 16–27°C (Rhodes: 22–28°C)
• Crete: 13–28°C

Skies will be mostly clear with clouds building over inland regions by midday, bringing isolated showers in the mountains, particularly along the Pindus range. Visibility may be limited overnight and in the early morning.

• Athens: Sunny, 17–30°C, light northwesterly winds.
• Thessaloniki: Fair skies, 14–29°C, light variable winds.

Outlook for the Weekend

• Friday, Sept. 26: Clouds and light showers across eastern mainland Greece, the Sporades, Evia, and Crete. Strong northerly winds in the Aegean, up to 8 Beaufort. Temperatures dropping, especially in central and northern regions.
• Saturday, Sept. 27: Rain and storms move into the Ionian and western mainland. The rest of the country will see increasing clouds. Winds: southerly in the west, northerly in the east. Temperatures continue to fall nationwide.
• Sunday, Sept. 28: Widespread rain and thunderstorms across most of the country, especially in the west, mainland, and northern Aegean. Crete and the Dodecanese remain largely dry. Further temperature drop expected.