Showers (with mud showers in places), locally gusty southeast winds in the Aegean and very high concentrations of African dust in the south are expected today, as weather system, with named INES as it was named by the Italian Meteorological Service, from the coast of Tunisia moving northeast is expected to cause a deterioration of the weather in our country until the early hours of Saturday (17-5-2025), according to the Emergency Weather Bulletin issued by the National Weather Service.

The forecast is as follows:

A. Heavy rains and thunderstorms

1. during the night of Thursday (15-05-25) to Friday (16-05-25) in the area of Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca, northwestern Peloponnese, western and central Sterea and Thessaly

2. on Friday (16-05-25) from mid-morning until evening in the northern Ionian Sea (Corfu, Diapontia Islands, Paxos, Lefkada), Epirus, western Central Greece, western and central Macedonia

3. from Friday afternoon (16-05-25) until Saturday morning (17-05-25) in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the northeastern Aegean (Lemnos area).

B. Locally gusty southeast winds (8 to 9 Beaufort gusts) on Friday (16-05-25) in the Aegean Sea and Crete and until noon in the southern Ionian Sea and the southern Peloponnese.

C. Meteorological conditions favor the transport of African dust in the southern part of the country (mainly in Crete, Cyclades, Dodecanese and southern Peloponnese).

The forecast map below shows the estimated cumulative rainfall until the end of Friday 16/05 (including the rains that will occur from the evening of Thursday 15/05).

Winds in the South and East Aegean Sea will blow from southeastern directions with an average intensity of 7 and locally 8 Beaufort. In the Ionian Sea, until noon, the winds will blow east to southeast, with an average intensity of 5-6 Beaufort and locally in the southern parts 7 Beaufort. The following forecast maps show the estimated maximum wind gusts (in km/h) in the morning and midday/afternoon hours of Friday 16/05. As seen on the maps, wind gusts will locally exceed 90 km/h.

Meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafillias warns that the low barometric pressure called “INES” that will last for 48 hours will cause a large amount of water which can create flooding in vulnerable areas expected in Aitoloakarnania, Epirus, the northern Ionian Sea and central and western Macedonia. However, he notes that from “Sunday we will enjoy plenty of sunshine and the temperature will gradually rise.”

Today’s weather

Local showers are expected in the Ionian Islands, the mainland and areas of the Aegean. Gradually the phenomena will be limited in the western, central and northern parts of the country, where they will be locally intense. Thunderstorms will mainly occur in the northwest. At the same time, there will be a transport of African dust, especially in the south of the country where very high dust concentrations are expected.

The temperature will range in Western Macedonia from 9 to 15 degrees, in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace from 11 to 16-18 degrees, in Thessaly from 13 to 22-23 degrees, in Epirus from 13 to 24 degrees, in the rest of the continent from 14 to 25-27 degrees, in the Ionian Islands from 15 to 24 degrees, in the Aegean Islands from 14 to 24 degrees and in Crete from 21 to 28 degrees, however in Northern Crete the maximum will reach 34-35 degrees Celsius.

The winds in the North Aegean will blow from southeastern directions with intensities of 5-6 Beaufort, but in the northern parts winds of variable directions with intensities of up to 5 Beaufort are expected. In the rest of the Aegean Sea, southerly winds will prevail with intensities of 6-7 and locally 8 Beaufort, with a slight weakening in the evening. In the Ionian Sea will initially blow eastern southeastern winds with intensities of 4-6 Beaufort and locally in the southern seas 7 Beaufort, but from the afternoon they will weaken and turn to northwestern winds.

In Attica we expect light local mud showers until the morning and then a few clouds. African dust concentrations will be increased. Winds will blow southeast at 4-5 Beaufort and locally 6 Beaufort, but in the afternoon they will shift to south southwest and weaken. The temperature will range from 17 to 25-26 degrees Celsius.

In Thessaloniki we expect showers at times. The winds will blow southeast with 4-5 Beaufort, but in the afternoon they will turn to north northwest and weaken slightly. The temperature will range from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.

The weather on Saturday (17/05)

In the west, the central and northern mainland as well as on the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, clouds, partly cloudy with local showers and occasional thunderstorms, locally heavy until the morning hours in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the islands of the northeastern Aegean, and a rapid improvement. In the rest of the country, partly cloudy. African dust is favoured in the south.

Winds will blow in the west, central and north west northwest at 4 to 6 Beaufort. In the remaining areas, the winds will initially blow south-southwest 4 to 6 Beaufort and in the Aegean Sea locally 7 Beaufort, gradually turning to westerly with the same intensity.

The temperature will drop slightly in the west and south. It will reach 20 to 22 degrees Celsius in the north and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius in the rest of the regions, and locally 25 degrees Celsius in the mainland.

The weather on Sunday (18/05)

In the eastern Aegean islands a few clouds, partly increasing until the afternoon hours with local showers. In the rest of the country, generally clear weather with occasional clouds in the mainland in the midday and afternoon hours with possible local rainfall in the mountains.

The winds will blow west northwest 4 to 5 Beaufort, in the south 6 and in some places up to 7 Beaufort.

The temperature will not change significantly.