The Greek National Meteorological Service (EMY) warns of extreme weather phenomena with heavy rains, thunderstorms and gale-force South winds. EMY has issued a Red Alert for November 24-26, 2019.
The severe weather front meteorologists named “Gyrionis” – Geryon – is forecast to break in as of Sunday afternoon, start in the West and affect the whole of the country.
Until Tuesday, Nov 26, significant amounts of rain are expected to fall.
The mythical monster Geryon will develop in three phases.
Phase 1: On Sunday 24/11, rain and sporadic storms will occur locally across the mainland excluding Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The Phenomena will intensify in the afternoon and possibly affect the Sporades and West Crete.
Phase 2: From late Sunday night 24/11 to late afternoon Monday 25/11, strong thunderstorms will sweep across the country, heading from W to the East. Areas affected include the prefecture of Attica and the city of Athens.
Phase 3: From the evening hours of Monday 25/11 to the evening hours of Tuesday 26/11 a third wave of locally heavy rains and thunderstorms will affect mainly the southern and eastern mainland and the continental and the seas.
Forecast Analytically
Sunday, Nov 24
Red Mark: The weather is very dangerous. Exceptionally intense meteorological phenomena have been forecast. Major damage and accidents are likely, in many cases with threat to life and limb, over a wide area. Keep frequently informed about detailed expected meteorological conditions and risks. Follow orders and any advice given by your authorities under all circumstances, be prepared for extraordinary measures.
As of afternoon: islands in the Ionian Sea, Epirus, West Sterea, Peloponnese.
As of the evening: East Sterea (including Attica, Evia and possibly Thessaly.
Attica: Strong rainfalls and thunderstorms as of Sunday evening until early morning hours of Monday.
Monday, Nov 25
Until the morning hours: Ionian Sea islands, West Sterea, West Peloponnese and possibly Epirus.
Until noon: East Peloponnese, East Sterea, Evia, Crete.
Until late afternoon: Thessaly, Sporades islands, Cyclades.
Until evening hours: Macedonia, mainly West and Central.
Tuesday, Nov 26
Gradually as of the early morning hours: islands of the North and East Aegean Sea.
By noon: the Dodecanese, possibly the Cyclades and gradually as of the afternoon again the Dodecanese.
Wind
Gale-force South winds will be blowing with intensity 8-9 Beaufort in Ionian Sea and West Greece on Sunday, in the Aegean Sea on Monday.
High possibility that wind will temporarily reach 10 Beaufort in the Ionian Sea in the evening hours of Sunday.
Note: By 9 Beaufort normally sea traffic is halted. If you plan to travel by sea, check with local port authorities and travel agents.
Rain Maps
The storms in the last few days caused damages in several areas in northern Greece and had two regions declared “state of emergency.”
On the occasion of the extreme weather, Greeks learn about Geryon, the Greek mythology monster with often human faces. He was son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe, the grandson of Medusa and the nephew of winged horse Pegasus. He was a fearsome giant who dwelt on the island Erytheia of the mythic Hesperides in the far west of the Mediterranean.
According to Hesiod, Geryon had one body and three heads, whereas the tradition followed by Aeschylus gave him three bodies.
Geryon was the The Tenth Labour of Heracles
weather sources: emy.gr, meteo.gr, poseidon system
