Many areas of Greece have been blanketed in white, as severe weather brings heavy snowfall, low temperatures, and travel disruptions, with authorities on heightened alert.

(Chortiatis)

From early Wednesday morning (21/1), dense snowfall has been recorded, according to meteo, in many areas of Macedonia (Grevena, Giannitsa, Vasilitsa), Epirus (Metsovo, Vovousa in Ioannina), Thessaly (Pezoula in Karditsa, Vamvakou in Farsala, Kalabaka), Central Greece (Mavrolithari in Phocis, Ypati in Phthiotis, Amfikleia, Paliochori in Phthiotis), the Peloponnese (Mesorrougi in Achaia), and Attica (Mount Parnitha, Mount Penteli).

(Aridaia)

(Florina)

(Kozani)

(Veria)

Snow in the mountainous areas of Thessaloniki, accumulation in the city of Trikala

The first snowflakes of this winter began falling before dawn in Thessaloniki, with Mount Chortiatis “dressed” in white. A blanket of snow covered the city’s mountainous areas, with competent authorities on alert and, for the time being, no major problems reported in transportation.

(Grevena)

(Naousa)

The municipality of Pylaia–Chortiatis, one of the first municipalities affected by the snowfall, is on heightened alert under the coordination of Mayor Ignatios Kaitezidis, deploying snowplows and machinery. Town halls and community offices have been operating around the clock since last night; an informational SMS with practical advice and useful travel information has been sent to residents; and there are adequate salt reserves.

“We welcomed the snow before dawn,” the mayor of Pylaia–Chortiatis said in a related post, adding that roads remain open for travel and schools will operate normally in all municipal units.

Snowflakes are also falling in Filyro, in Melissochori of the Oreokastro municipality, and in villages of the Lagadas municipality. In contrast to the mountainous areas, rain is falling in central Thessaloniki, with temperatures early in the morning around 4°C, while in Lagadas the thermometer showed 0°C.

Beautiful images from Kalabaka: