Much of north-central and even parts of southern mainland Greece didn’t get the “climate change” memo late this week, as a sharp cold spell brought distinctly winter-like characteristics to coincide with this year’s May Day commemoration. The cold front caused a sudden temperature drop of up to 10 degrees Celsius within just a few hours and significant snowfall in mountainous areas.
Winter images were recorded across the country’s highlands, where significant – and much needed – snow accumulation reported.

On Mount Parnassus, in south-central Greece, the landscape was once again blanketed in white, with snow depth reaching 3 to 5 centimeters. The specific site hosts Greece’s best known and visited ski resort.
According to data from the automatic weather station network of the National Observatory of Athens (meteo.gr), frost was recorded during the early morning hours of Saturday. The lowest temperature was measured at the mountainous Seli site in northern Imathia prefecture, at -3.2°C.
Similarly low readings were recorded across northern Greece.

At the Ochyro Nevrokopi site and at the Vevi site in Florina prefecture temperatures dropped to -1.4°C, while the city of Florina recorded -1.2°C. Sub-zero temperatures were recorded in most of northern Greece’s mountainous regions.

Snowfall and local snow cover were also reported in several mountainous regions. In addition to Parnassus, Mt. Pelion — particularly the Chánia (HA-nia) district — saw fresh snowfall of 3–5 centimeters. Snow also fell on Mt. Olympus and the peaks of Velouchi, Chelmos and Vasilitsa.

A rare and picturesque phenomenon was also observed in mountainous Corinth prefecture, west and southwest of Athens proper, where the spring landscape was transformed into a winter scene in one night. From the evening of May Day, heavy snowfall covered the highlands. The area also hosts the Ziria ski resort.