Greece braces for storms on 28 October as Red Code covers five regions and parades are cancelled

Red warnings for Wednesday

Storms, heavy rain and localised hail are forecast across a large part of Greece on Wednesday, 28 October, the national anniversary, with the strongest phenomena in the east. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) has updated its emergency bulletin on dangerous weather and placed Thessaly, the Sporades, Evia and the Dodecanese under red warnings. Orange warnings apply to the eastern Aegean islands, eastern Sterea, Attica and the western and northern Cyclades, most of them running until late evening or the early morning hours. Meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas warned in a post that rainfall could exceed 100 millimetres in specific areas, combined with gale-force winds and a sharp drop in temperatures. Athens is expected to see heavy rain from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, with conditions improving as the parade hour approaches.

Parades called off

Several student parades for the anniversary have already been cancelled or reshaped. Thessaly regional governor Dimitris Kouretas decided to call off the student parades across Magnesia and the northern Sporades, citing the forecast dangerous weather and the risk to participants and spectators, and the decision was posted on Diavgeia. The military part of the parade in Volos will be decided on Wednesday, depending on how the weather develops. In Skiathos the remaining events move to the afternoon, with a thanksgiving service at 17:00 and a memorial service and wreath laying at 17:30, and schools will be represented only by flag bearers. In the Cyclades a deputy regional governor cancelled parades for pupils, clubs and associations, while in the Dodecanese civil protection coordinator Minas Papadakis announced through ERT South Aegean that all student parades are off. In Attica the Agios Dimitrios municipality cancelled its parade, but the thanksgiving at the local church will go ahead, with flag bearers due at 10:00. In Chalkida only the parade company of the Infantry School will march, without pupils or civic sections.

Temperatures and wind

Temperatures stay low for the season across much of the country. Forecast ranges for Wednesday run from 1 to 12 °C in western Macedonia and 5 to 13 °C in Thessaly, rising to 12 to 20 °C in Crete and 16 to 20 °C in the Dodecanese. Central Athens is expected to see 12 to 15 °C, with northerly winds of 3 to 5 Beaufort in Attica. Across the Aegean, northerly winds of 4 to 6 Beaufort are forecast, with the northern Aegean possibly reaching 8 Beaufort and the northern Ionian seeing temporary gusts up to 7 Beaufort. Another report expects winds to strengthen to 8 to 9 Beaufort, which may disrupt travel in Thessaly and central Greece. Snow is forecast above 1,200 metres in central and western Macedonia, Thessaly, parts of central and eastern Sterea and Evia.

Civil protection response

Civil protection has moved to its highest state of alert. On Tuesday, 27 October, 112 emergency alerts were sent to Evia, Magnesia and the Sporades, asking residents to limit their movements on Wednesday to what is absolutely necessary. The same day the Risk Assessment Committee met under Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas and extended Red Code because of the high flood risk, with the Cyclades added for Wednesday. Red Code applies to Magnesia, Larissa, the Sporades, Evia, Fthiotida, Viotia, Attica, the Dodecanese and the North Aegean from Monday, 26 October, through Thursday, 29 October. The ministry said the national mechanism is fully ready and urged citizens to be especially careful.

Outlook

Forecasters expect the rain in Athens to ease as the parade hour approaches, after heavy showers from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. Western and northern Greece are forecast to see better conditions than the east. Red Code remains in force for the listed areas through Thursday, 29 October, and the military part of the Volos parade is still awaiting a decision on Wednesday.