Torch for the Milano Winter Games Lit in…
Held indoors in Olympia due to…
The statue of Alexander the Great on the Thessaloniki waterfront following snowfall from the weather system dubbed "Medea"
© Intime News
After a period of springlike weather, winter returned to Greece with a vengeance over the weekend as the weather system dubbed “Medea” swept in from the north, bringing gale force winds, freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to much of the country.
The Associated Press reports:
A cold weather front has hit Greece, sending temperatures plunging from the low 20s Celsius (around 70 Fahrenheit) on Friday to well below freezing on Monday, and seeing snowfall in central Athens.
Authorities appealed to the public to restrict their movements outside to the essential only, while the main highway leading north out of the capital was shut due to snowfall.
Temperatures in part of Kozani in northern Greece fell to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) while gale force north winds battered Greece’s islands, with gusts reaching 118 kilometers per hour (73 miles per hour).
Power cuts were reported in the Sporades islands in the Aegean. Government spokesman Christos Tarantilis said crews were working to restore electricity, after the cuts were apparently caused by trees falling onto power lines.
Heavy snowfall was predicted for central, southern and eastern Greece over the next day, including in the capital and on the southern island of Crete.
While snow is common in Greece’s north and its mountains during the winter, it is infrequent on the islands and in the center of the capital. [AP]
Of course, even as the blizzards caused problems for many communities, they also transformed familiar landscapes and monuments, blanketing them in white.
Below are some of our favourite images from around the country:.
A woman battles the cold walking along Thessaloniki's waterfront with the iconic "Umbrellas" sculpture by George Zongolopoulos in the background
© AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos
Snow blankets the Eptapirgio (“Seven Towers”) Castle in Thessaloniki's Upper Town
© Intime News / Yiannia Mosiadis
Thessaloniki's White Tower lives up to its name as snow covers much of Thessaloniki
© AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos
Covered in snow, Thessaloniki's Artistotelous Square resembles a more northern European city
© Intime News / Yiannis Papanikos
In many parts of Greece, snow settled even in coastal areas such as on Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach in Epanomi, Thessaloniki
© Intime News
In many parts of Greece, snow settled even in coastal areas such as on Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach in Epanomi, Thessaloniki
© Intime News
Lamia in Central Greece saw a thick covering of snow blanket the town and surrounding area
© Intime News
Lamia in Central Greece saw a thick covering of snow blanket the town and surrounding area
Lamia in Central Greece saw a thick covering of snow blanket the town and surrounding area
The coastal town of Kavala saw a thick layer of snow settle even on beaches and fishing boats
© Intime News
The coastal town of Kavala saw a thick layer of snow settle even on beaches and fishing boats
© Intime News
The coastal town of Kavala saw a thick layer of snow settle even on beaches and fishing boats
© Intime News
While snow did not settle in central Athens, low cloud and stormy weather made for moody scenes around the Acropolis
© Intime News
The northern suburbs of Athens received their first major snowfall of the year, and residents, after weeks of lockdown, took the opportunity to head out for walks and snowball fights in the wintery landscape.
© Intime News
The northern suburbs of Athens received their first major snowfall of the year, and residents, after weeks of lockdown, took the opportunity to head out for walks and snowball fights in the wintery landscape.
© Intime News
Held indoors in Olympia due to…
Two of Greece’s most beloved islands…
Pick up a copy of our…
The capital of Lasithi in eastern…