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Storm Agneta continues to batter Greece on Tuesday, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail forecast across western, northern and eastern parts of the country. Civil Protection authorities remain on heightened alert, while meteorologists warn that some areas could experience particularly intense rainfall.

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) has issued red weather warnings for several regions, including parts of Macedonia, Thrace, the northeastern Aegean and areas around Corfu and Epirus. Orange warnings are also in effect for other parts of the country.

The storm system, which moved east from Italy, has already brought severe weather to the Ionian Islands and western Greece. It is expected to move across central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the northern Aegean before affecting the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese.

Rhodes remains a particular concern after recording approximately 150 millimeters of rainfall, with the total amount potentially reaching 250 millimeters. Heavy rain is also expected in the eastern Aegean and Halkidiki.

The storms are forecast to bring localized hail and intense lightning, while southerly winds have reached 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale.

Red weather alerts across Greece on Tuesday

According to the HNMS emergency weather bulletin, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the following areas on Tuesday, Nov. 3:

  • Ionian Islands: Severe weather is expected through midday, under an orange warning.
  • Corfu, Paxos and Epirus: Heavy rainfall is forecast through the morning, with a red warning in place. The warning particularly concerns coastal areas of Epirus.
  • Epirus, western Central Greece and western and southern Peloponnese: Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue until the afternoon, under an orange warning.
  • Macedonia and Thrace: Severe weather will initially affect western Macedonia before spreading to central and eastern Macedonia, including Thasos and Samothrace, as well as Thrace. The northeastern Aegean islands of Lemnos, Agios Efstratios and Lesbos are also expected to be affected. A red warning is in effect from the early morning through the afternoon.
  • Eastern Aegean and Dodecanese: The islands from Chios southward, along with the Dodecanese, are expected to experience heavy rain and thunderstorms from the morning through the afternoon, under an orange warning.

Weather forecast for Athens and Thessaloniki

In Attica, including Athens, rain and localized thunderstorms are expected mainly during the morning and around midday. Some storms could temporarily become intense and bring hail.

Conditions are forecast to improve during the afternoon. Southwesterly winds will initially reach 5 to 6 Beaufort and could locally reach 7 Beaufort in coastal areas. Temperatures in central Athens will range from 14 to 19–20 degrees Celsius.

Thessaloniki is expected to experience periods of rain, with conditions improving in the afternoon. Northerly to northwesterly winds will reach up to 5 Beaufort, while temperatures in the city center will range from 11 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Schools closed in Corfu

All schools in Corfu will remain closed on Tuesday, Nov. 3, following a decision by the municipality in response to the red weather alert and the severe conditions already affecting the island.

The decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the local Civil Protection coordination body at the Marasleio municipal building.

The municipality said the closure was based on the red alert issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, information provided by the HNMS and forecasts indicating that severe weather would continue through the morning.

The local education directorate is responsible for decisions on any alternative arrangements for lessons.

112 alerts urge residents to limit travel

Greece’s emergency alert system, 112, was activated late Monday night, with warnings sent to residents in Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, the Diapontian Islands, Thesprotia and Preveza.

The messages warned of heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight and into the early hours of Tuesday, urging people to restrict their movements and follow instructions from authorities.

Alerts were sent to Thesprotia at 10:43 p.m. and to Preveza one minute later. Earlier messages had also warned residents of the Ionian islands about the expected severe weather.

Outdoor work suspended in high-risk areas

The Labor Ministry announced emergency measures on Monday to protect private-sector workers from the extreme weather.

Outdoor manual work was ordered to stop between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 in areas expected to experience particularly severe conditions: the Dodecanese, Corfu and coastal parts of Epirus.

The mandatory suspension covered construction and technical works, building sites, ship repair zones, and the delivery or transportation of goods using motorcycles, scooters and other two-wheeled vehicles. Workers employed through digital platforms were also covered, regardless of their employment arrangements.

The suspension did not apply to essential services and socially critical infrastructure in health care, transportation and utilities, including hospitals, water and electricity services, air travel and airport ground handling, as well as maritime, road and rail transport. These activities were required to take the necessary measures to protect workers, including providing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Employers who failed to comply faced a fine of €2,000 for each affected employee, imposed by the Labor Inspectorate.

The ministry also recommended that private businesses in areas particularly affected by the storm allow remote work wherever operationally possible. Employers in those areas were permitted to adjust workers’ starting and finishing times without having to register every change in advance in the ERGANI employment information system.

Storm expected to weaken from Tuesday evening

The severe weather is forecast to begin easing gradually from late Tuesday afternoon.

However, the system will not leave all parts of Greece immediately. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue over the eastern Aegean during the night from Tuesday into Wednesday, although they should be significantly weaker than the earlier storms.