The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) has upgraded the severe weather warning it issued yesterday (12 October) to a Dangerous Weather Phenomena Bulletin, warning of an approaching spell of bad weather that is expected to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the country.

Evia is under a red alert, with the weather expected to be particularly intense and prolonged. Attica, Magnesia, the Sporades islands and other areas will also be affected.

Meanwhile, very strong winds are forecast in the Aegean from Tuesday evening (13 October), with gusts locally reaching force 10 on the Beaufort scale.

The critical 48-hour period had also been flagged earlier by Giorgos Tsatrafyllias, a meteorologist for protothema.gr.

Full details of the EMY’s updated emergency bulletin:

“Heavy rain and thunderstorms, with a possibility of local hailstorms, are expected across most of the country, particularly in coastal and offshore areas, today, Tuesday (13 October), and tomorrow, Wednesday (14 October).

Very strong northeasterly winds are also forecast locally in the northern Aegean from Tuesday evening (13 October).

More specifically,

1. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast locally in the following areas:

A. Today, Tuesday (13 October)

a) Temporarily, in the Ionian islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, western Central Greece, and western and southern Peloponnese until the evening (orange warning).

b) In Halkidiki from midday onwards (orange warning).

c) In the Sporades and eastern Thessaly (Magnesia regional unit) from the afternoon onwards (orange warning).

It is emphasised that the weather phenomena in these areas will be intense and prolonged.

d) In Evia from the afternoon onwards (red warning). It is emphasised that the weather phenomena in these areas will be intense and prolonged.

e) In northeastern Peloponnese, eastern Central Greece, including Attica, and the Cyclades, particularly the western and northern parts, from late afternoon onwards (orange warning).

f) In the Dodecanese from late at night (orange warning).

g) In Crete, particularly the regional units of Chania and Rethymno, from the evening onwards (orange warning).

B. Tomorrow, Wednesday (14 October)

a) In Evia until late afternoon (red warning).

b) Temporarily, in northeastern Peloponnese, eastern Central Greece, including Attica, and the Cyclades, particularly the western and northern parts, until the early hours of the day (orange warning).

c) In Halkidiki until the morning (orange warning).

d) In the Sporades and eastern Thessaly (Magnesia regional unit) until the afternoon (orange warning).

e) In the Dodecanese until the afternoon (orange warning).

f) In Crete, particularly the regional units of Chania and Rethymno, until late at night (orange warning).

2. Very strong northeasterly winds, reaching force 8 to 9 and temporarily up to force 10 locally, will initially affect the northern Aegean and gradually the central Aegean, from Tuesday evening until late Wednesday night.”