Μake us preferred on Google Strong northerly winds are disrupting Greece’s peak summer travel day, with sailings suspended from Rafina and Lavrio and ferry services from Piraeus facing cancellations and schedule changes
The peak of Greece’s annual Aug. 15 holiday exodus is being disrupted by strong northerly winds, with a sailing ban in effect at the ports of Rafina and Lavrio until 1 p.m. Saturday, while ferry services from Piraeus are also facing cancellations and schedule changes depending on destinations and the evolution of the winds.
Passengers traveling on affected ferry and other sea routes are being advised to contact the relevant port authorities or their ferry operators to confirm whether their services will operate.
The strong winds are affecting much of the country, with northerly winds reaching 5 to 7 Beaufort in Thrace and 6 to 8 Beaufort over the northern and northeastern Aegean. Winds in the eastern and southern Peloponnese are reaching 5 to 7 Beaufort, while the Attica-Boeotia (Viotia) region and Evia (Euboea) island are experiencing northerly winds of 6 to 7 Beaufort, locally reaching 8 Beaufort through the afternoon.
The strongest conditions are being recorded over the central Aegean and Cyclades, where winds are reaching 7 to 8 Beaufort and locally 9 Beaufort. The National Observatory of Athens’ meteo.gr forecast for Naxos, for example, puts daytime northerly winds at 7 Beaufort, with gusts reaching about 80 km/h.
Northern winds of 6 to 8 Beaufort are also forecast in Crete, with locally stronger gusts in the south of the island. In exposed areas of the country, gusts are expected to exceed 100 km/h.
The conditions are particularly significant on a day that traditionally marks the climax of Greece’s summer travel season. Tens of thousands of travelers are making their way to the islands and coastal destinations for the Dormition of the Theotokos, one of the most important religious holidays in the Greek Orthodox calendar.
The sailing restrictions also underscore the extent to which the strong summer northerlies, known locally as the meltemia, can affect travel across the Aegean. While the winds are a characteristic feature of the Greek summer, their intensity can create hazardous conditions for vessels and force port authorities and ferry operators to suspend services.
