A sudden storm hit Athens on Tuesday afternoon after days of high temperatures and gale force winds, disrupting traffic and taking residents and tourists by surprise.

The downpour, which began shortly before 2 p.m., came as the Greek capital’s first significant rainfall in nearly seven months. In the central neighborhood of Gazi, 15.8mm of rain were recorded, breaking a 197-day dry streak. The last time Athens registered more than 10mm in a single day was back in February.

High rainfall levels were also reported in other parts of Attica, the Peloponnese, Thrace, and Epirus, according to data from the National Observatory of Athens’ meteo.gr network, which operates 93 automatic meteorological stations across the country.

While the sudden change in weather caused only minor inconvenience for commuters and tourists, meteorologists noted that the rainfall was significant and welcome given the prolonged dry conditions.

The national weather service forecasts a return to generally clear skies on Wednesday, with scattered clouds and local showers expected in Central Greece, Thessaly, Macedonia, and Thrace. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible in northern regions later in the day.

Temperatures will remain high, ranging from 15 to 36 degrees Celsius depending on the region, while winds are expected to blow at 3–5 Beaufort, reaching up to 6 Beaufort in parts of the Aegean.

In Attica, conditions will be clear with some cloud cover midday and in the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to range between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius, with light variable winds. Thessaloniki will see a similar outlook, with highs of 30 degrees.

Temperatures are expected to rise on Thursday and Friday, reaching 39 degrees Celsius in Central Greece and the Peloponnese. Attica will see cooler weather on Sunday due to northerly winds.