Severe weather is currently affecting Northern Greece, with snow and bitter cold brought by «Medea» since Saturday morning in Florina, Kozani, Kastoria, Ptolemaida, Veroia, Kavala, Katerini, as well as in Polygyros and other areas of Chalkidiki. Snow is currently falling heavily in downtown Thessaloniki as well.
As announced by the Thessaloniki Traffic Police Department, due to snowfall, snow chains are required at the following locations:
In Imathia, from the 87th to the 98th kilometer of the old national highway from Thessaloniki – Kozani (via Kastania), on the roads leading to the Seli and 3-5 Pigadia ski resorts, starting at the 2-kilometer mark of the Naoussa – Arkohori, starting at the 3-kilometer mark of the Naoussa–Rodohori municipal road.
In the Pella region, on the roads leading to the Voras (Kaimaktsalan) ski resort.
In Pieria, from kilometer 34 to kilometer 44 of the Katerini–Elassona national highway.
In Chalkidiki, from kilometer 70 to kilometer 85 of the old Thessaloniki–Ierissos national highway (via Taxiarchis).
It should also be noted that there is a ban on trucks weighing more than 3.5 metric tons on the Egnatia Highway and throughout the entire road network of Chalkidiki.
Western Macedonia
As forAs for Western Macedonia, according to the General Regional Police Directorate of Western Macedonia, the situation on the road network of the Region of Western Macedonia, broken down by Police Directorate, isas follows:
Starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (February 13, 2021) a temporary traffic ban is in effect for all trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 3.5 metric tons in both directions: from km 120.8 (Panagia Interchange) to km 181.1 (Siatista Interchange) on the Egnatia Highway.
Traffic is flowing normally on the Egnatia Highway, as well as on the national and provincial road networks.
In the prefecture of Kastoria, vehicles are required to use a special type of tire or snow chains from the 18th to the 28th kilometer of the Kastoria – Florina (via Vitsio) and from the 36th to the 40th kilometer of the Kastoria–Ioannina Provincial Road (via Kotylis).
Vehicle traffic on the north-south corridor (A-29) of the Egnatia Highway between Siatista – Krystallopigi, as well as on the entire national highway network and the rest of the provincial and municipal road networks, is proceeding normally.
In the prefecture of Kozani, as of 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (February 13, 2021) a temporary traffic ban is in effect for all trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 3.5 metric tons in both directions: from km 181.1 of the Eastern Siatista Highway to km 227.0 Polymylos Interchange, from km 0.0 of the AK (West Siatista) to km 17.5 of AK 02 Aliakmon, and from km 51.0 of the Kozani– Larissa (border with the Regional Unit of Larissa).
Vehicle traffic on the entire national, provincial, and municipal road network, as well as on the Egnatia Highway and the A-29 Kozani-Kastoria, is permitted exclusively with the use of special-type tires or snow chains.
In the prefecture of Florina, vehicle traffic on the Niki-Florina section of the Egnatia Highway (A-27), as well as on the national, provincial, and municipal road networks, is permitted exclusively with the use of special-type tires or snow chains.
The departments of the General Regional Police Directorate of Western Macedonia, as part of operational planning, the necessary measures are being taken throughout the duration of severe weather events.
Please note that on the Hellenic Police website, «hellenicpolice.gr», there is a special banner with continuously updated information on weather conditions—road closures—and the use of snow chains throughout the country, as well as road safety tips.
In addition, any citizen who wishes to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and needs assistance in getting to a vaccination center, as well as any citizen who needs assistance getting to a hospital or medical center (e.g., kidney patients for dialysis, etc.), may call 100 so that the General Regional Police Directorate of Western Macedonia can assist with their safe transportation.
In light of the snowfall that the severe weather system «Medea» is expected to bring over the next few days to much of our country, and possibly to the capital as well, the National Observatory of Athens (NOA)-meteo presented a table listing the ten most significant snowfall events in Athens and the absolute minimum temperatures recorded during those events over the past 110 years (as measured by the meteorological station of the National Observatory of Athens in Thiseio). The most significant snowfall event occurred in February 1911, when up to one and a half meters of snow fell, while the majority of the most significant snowfall events occurred in February. The most recent significant snowfall in Athens occurred on February 17–18, 2008, when 20 centimeters of snow fell.
The lowest temperature recorded in Thiseio was minus 5.7 degrees on February 14–15, 1934, while during the snowstorm of February 2008, the thermometer had dropped to minus 5 degrees. The longest periods of snowfall were recorded in February 1934, January 1964, and January 2002 (lasting 48 hours in all three cases).
Authorities recommend that citizens avoid nonessential travel and, if they must travel, check the weather and road conditions and be equipped with snow chains.
