Greece’s National Meteorological Service has issued a weather warning of strong rainfalls and thunderstorms, hail and snow, gust winds and return of the Sahara dust. Already some local authorities decided to close schools on the island of Crete.
The bad weather front first affects the West of Greece as of Sunday, March 25th 2018, the Ionian islands and West Sterea, gradually West and Central Macedonia, Thessaly, West and North Peloponnese.
Heavy snowfalls in the mountainous areas of Epirus, West Macedonia, West Sterea, West and North Thessaly in altitude above 600-700 meters.
Monday, March 26
The same areas as on Sunday as well as East Macedonia and Thrace.
By Monday evening and Tuesday morning, March 27, also the islands of East and possible also of North Aegean Sea.
Winds with intensity 7 to 8 Beaufort in the Ionian and the Aegean Sea and in Crete.
SAHARA DUST
After a two-day break, the Sahara dust has returned to Crete. Already on Sunday evening, the Dust Station in Chania recorded 300 micrograms per cubic meter, meteo service reports.
- 08:45 p.m. Chania PM10 at 268 μg/m³
Also in the city of Herakleio the PM10 level reached 300 μg/m³, state broadcaster ERT TV reported on Sunday, short after 9 p.m.
Transfer of the Sahara dust from Libya is expected to be thicker in the night from Sunday to Monday. Meteorologists forecast that the situation will improve as of Monday afternoon, and clear on Tuesday.
Local authorities of Lasithi Prefecture decided to close the schools on Monday, to avoid health problems for pupils and students. Other local authorities may follow.
The Prefecture of Herakleio will take its decision on Monday morning, ERT reported.
Last week billions of particles of Sahara dust covered the island of Crete at an unprecedented level. It was the biggest ever transfer of dust. Dozens of locals with respiratory problems and allergies sought medical aid at the hospitals of the island.
