Greece weather warning as Crete and other islands set to be rocked by storms

People in are being urged to prepare themselves as storms are set to batter much of the country – including areas popular with British tourists.

Strong winds and heavy rain are expected across many throughout Sunday, including Crete, the Sporades Islands and the Ionian islands, which includes Corfu.

The latest warning from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Greece’s version of the , states: “A change in the is predicted in our country on Sunday (29-09-2024) and until Monday (30-09-2024) with very strong winds, a noticeable drop in temperature and with strong rains and storms in places.”

“Gusty northwesterly winds of intensity seven to eight and possibly temporary locally nine Beaufort will blow from midday on Sunday in the Ionian and western mainlands and from the afternoon in central Macedonia, the Sporades, eastern Thessaly, Sterea, Evia, the region of Kythira and Crete.”

The warning said strong winds would also occur in other regions of the country – with the winds expected to gradually weaken from midday on Monday.

It added: “Heavy rains and storms will occur from the afternoon of Sunday (29-09-2024) until the early hours of Monday (30-09-2024) in the north-eastern parts of the country and more specifically in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the north-east Aegean.

“A drop in temperature is expected on Sunday (29-09-2024) in Epirus, Macedonia and the Ionian Islands and on Monday (30-09-2024) throughout the country, which will be in the order of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius.

“Indicatively, it is noted that the temperature on Monday will not exceed 22 degrees in Thessaloniki and 25 degrees Celsius in Athens.”

The storms battering Greece are the latest to hit Europe over the past few weeks.

Flooding h, with at least 24 people dead across the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Austria.

Homes were also following flooding.

In the UK, across areas of the country following heavy rain in the past few days.