Europe under attack again: Snowfalls in Greece, thunderstorms in France

Europe under attack again: Snowfalls in Greece, thunderstorms in France

Reviews of weather events, natural disasters, astronomical phenomena and wildlife around the world

0:00 In early May, Greece was hit by an Arctic incursion, with temperatures dropping sharply by 10-12°C. May 1st was the coldest on record since 1890. On the morning of May 2nd, the minimum temperature was recorded in the village of Seli (Imathia), at -3.2°C, with snow cover up to 8 cm deep in the mountainous regions.
By May 3rd, the wintry conditions intensified: on Mount Parnitha, snow depth exceeded 15 cm, forcing the closure of the road above the cable car. Snow also covered Penteli and the peaks of Imetos, and was also observed in the areas of Kalavryta, Parnassos, Pelion, and mountainous Corinthia. Meanwhile, Heraklion experienced heavy hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds.
Strong northerly winds in the Aegean Sea reached Force 8-9, bringing rain and thunderstorms across the country, with snowfall persisting in the mountainous regions. According to forecasts from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, the weather will begin to improve on the evening of May 4, with a sharp warming expected by midweek. The long-term forecast suggests temperatures reaching 30°C.

3:10 Unstable weather associated with the passage of an Atlantic front was observed in France from May 1 to 3. On May 1, localized thunderstorms and short-lived showers developed, particularly in the west and in the Île-de-France region. An active thunderstorm cell with hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds was observed in the Seine-Saint-Denis and Seine-et-Marne departments.
On May 2, the thunderstorm front intensified and moved from the west toward the center of the country. In the southwest, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department (Béarn region), intense thunderstorms with hail occurred. In Pau and the surrounding area, thunderstorms and short-lived accumulations of hail were observed in places. Thunderstorms were also accompanied by heavy rain and localized flooding in the north of the country, including Normandy and the Somme department. Traffic disruptions were reported in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). Around 40 departments were under a yellow weather warning for several days.

5:57 Along with Greece, neighboring Turkey was also hit by snowfall. Heavy snowfall occurred in the highlands of Kastamonu province. The area around Tosia and adjacent highlands suffered the most. Snow began falling on the evening of May 1 and continued intermittently for three days. Snow cover and ice formed on the Kastamonu-Tosia highway, complicating traffic.
Heavy snowfall also occurred in the southern regions of the country, causing traffic congestion due to numerous traffic jams. Due to heavy snowfall, the Afyon-Antalya highway was closed to traffic. The extreme weather was caused by a sharp drop in temperature after the passage of a weather front. Rain fell in the lowlands, while snow fell above 1,100–1,200 meters. Such events are extremely rare in the region in May.

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