Greece: Adverse weather forecast across much of the country through at least Dec. 3 /update 2

Adverse weather is forecast across much of Greece through at least Dec. 3 due to the passing of Storm Bora. Officials have issued orange (middle level on a three-tier scale) rain and thunderstorm warnings for Central Macedonia, Ionian Islands, North Aegean, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia regions. Yellow rain, thunderstorm, snow, and wind warnings are in place across the rest of Greece. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast to persist over Central Macedonia through early Dec. 2, over the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean and western and southern Peloponnese through noon Dec. 2, over Thessaly through the evening of Dec. 2, and over Sporades, Dodecanese, and Cyclades through early Dec. 3. Authorities will likely issue new alerts or update/rescind existing advisories as weather conditions change over the coming hours and days.

Severe weather has caused at least two deaths on the island of Lemnos. Residents in the town of Myrina evacuated as the local dam overflowed. Floodwaters destroyed the rural road network connecting the villages of Kontias, Thanos, and Agios Dimitris. Reports indicate that Rhodes Island suffered significant damage; many roads became impassable, authorities imposed a 24-hour ban on vehicle movement, bridges collapsed in the Kallithea-Faliraki area, and numerous structures sustained damage. Emergency services evacuated dozens of people across Rhodes. The mayor of Rhodes requested that the government declare a state of emergency. Strong winds and falling trees damaged the electricity grid, leading to power outages in Thessaly. These outages also delayed trains on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway line, and some schools in the affected areas are closed.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger additional flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where heavy rain has saturated the soil. Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks.

Floodwaters and debris flows could render some bridges or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities may temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. Flight delays and cancellations at airports are possible. Authorities may temporarily suspend port operations or close beach fronts in coastal regions if strong winds trigger hazardous sea conditions.

Localized business disruptions are possible in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites. Should disruptions occur, they could linger into early December.