An absolutely interesting Thursday for not only Athens, but most of Greece
really! The explosive cyclogenesis that took place over the Aegean during
the day caused a very enforced northerly stream (F12 at Skyros island) and
snowfalls even in the centre of Athens, the coasts around the capital, the
central and eastern Aegean isles, the Peloponnese and most parts of central
and northern continental Greece (practically most of the country, which is
rare to happen under the influence of the same system).

Athens, Wednesday evening:
SLP was dropping, as a low was approaching central Greece from the
northwest. It started raining in the evening and the accumulated
precipitation was 14.5 mm in SE Athens.

Athens, yesterday night:
Rainfalls intensified as the low centre passed right over greater Athens and
met the relatively warm Aegean water body (explosive cyclogenesis). As the
low made its way ESEwards, SLP in Athens continued to drop, until it reached
a minimum value of 984.9 hPa at 0359B.
Constant thunder was heard and then, suddenly, the noise outside the house
went really horrific. Not only was there c-g lightning in close distance,
but walnut sized hail had started to accumulate on the ground:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/hail4.jpg
It was the first time I saw -or measured- such an intense rainfall: peak
rainfall intensity reached 385.1 mm/h at 0145B and roads were turned to
rivers in three minutes:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/hail2.jpg

At the same time, central and northern parts of the country were
experiencing some heavy snowfalls. In Athens, temperature dropped from 11C
to 8C and the rain carried on until dawn, when it turned to sleet and the
surrounding hills disappeared. By 7am, temperature had dropped to 4.3C and
the hills and northern suburbs were covered with snow (30 cm at Dionysus, 5
cm at Kifissia). After a short break around noon, it got overcast again and,
this time, it snowed throughout the agglomeration (snowfalls were reported
at the Piraeus port as well). This led to a very light snow cover of ca 3-4
cm here, in SE Athens, while the northern suburbs reported snow
accumulations of 50 cm.

Downtown Athens, by Victoria squa
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/victoria.jpg

Western suburbs:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/west1.jpg

University campus:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/campus1.jpg

The football field in my neighbourhood:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/football.jpg

Pines in my area:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/pines1.jpg
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/pines2.jpg

The bomb-low at 12z
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/bomb1.jpg

and the winds associated with it:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/bomb2.jpg

It is currently overcast and there is still a light snow cover, mostly on
cars, house rooves and the grass.

Over one metre (!) of snow at the capital town of Samothraki isl in the NE
Aegean. Blizzards right now in the eastern Aegean isles (Samos, Icaria etc).
Heavy snowfalls reported at Mykonos and Milos. Dozens of villages are facing
road network problems and access to them has problematic since the morning.

Yannis, SE Athens
OVC, +1.1C, SLP 1003.0 hPa
http://www.e-kairos.gr/january04.html

"Yannis" wrote in message
...

This led to a very light snow cover of ca 3-4
cm here, in SE Athens, while the northern suburbs reported snow
accumulations of 50 cm.

Most recent report: 70 cm of snow at Dionysus, drifting to one metre! Many
trees have been severely damaged because of the combination of snow
accumulations and gusty NNWly winds.

Good icy morning everyone.

Some current temperatures around Athens:

P. Penteli, NE Athens: -7.6C
Nikaia: -2.6C
Zografou, E Athens: -1.0C
Votanikos, cent -0.6C
Terpsithea, SE Athens: -0.4C
Elliniko, S Athens: 0.0C

Temperature continued to drop overnight with moderate NWly breezes and
overcast skies. Some more fun possibly until the afternoon, especially
in the north and east of Attica.

Yannis, downtown Athens
0C, Td -6C, overcast

Yes, was looking at the situation in the eastern Med, and for Greece in
particular. A *really* major development, and as you have posted,
produced some interesting effects! It must make you wonder when you see
how worked up people get in the British Isles over a temporary northerly
blast! Many thanks for the links and the pictures from them.

Martin.


--
FAQ & Glossary for uk.sci.weather at:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/uswfaqfr.htm

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 01:51:30 +0200, "Yannis"
wrote:

An absolutely interesting Thursday for not only Athens, but most of Greece
really! The explosive cyclogenesis that took place over the Aegean during
the day caused a very enforced northerly stream (F12 at Skyros island) and
snowfalls even in the centre of Athens, the coasts around the capital, the
central and eastern Aegean isles, the Peloponnese and most parts of central
and northern continental Greece (practically most of the country, which is
rare to happen under the influence of the same system).

Athens, Wednesday evening:
SLP was dropping, as a low was approaching central Greece from the
northwest. It started raining in the evening and the accumulated
precipitation was 14.5 mm in SE Athens.

Athens, yesterday night:
Rainfalls intensified as the low centre passed right over greater Athens and
met the relatively warm Aegean water body (explosive cyclogenesis). As the
low made its way ESEwards, SLP in Athens continued to drop, until it reached
a minimum value of 984.9 hPa at 0359B.
Constant thunder was heard and then, suddenly, the noise outside the house
went really horrific. Not only was there c-g lightning in close distance,
but walnut sized hail had started to accumulate on the ground:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/hail4.jpg
It was the first time I saw -or measured- such an intense rainfall: peak
rainfall intensity reached 385.1 mm/h at 0145B and roads were turned to
rivers in three minutes:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/hail2.jpg

At the same time, central and northern parts of the country were
experiencing some heavy snowfalls. In Athens, temperature dropped from 11C
to 8C and the rain carried on until dawn, when it turned to sleet and the
surrounding hills disappeared. By 7am, temperature had dropped to 4.3C and
the hills and northern suburbs were covered with snow (30 cm at Dionysus, 5
cm at Kifissia). After a short break around noon, it got overcast again and,
this time, it snowed throughout the agglomeration (snowfalls were reported
at the Piraeus port as well). This led to a very light snow cover of ca 3-4
cm here, in SE Athens, while the northern suburbs reported snow
accumulations of 50 cm.

Downtown Athens, by Victoria squa
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/victoria.jpg

Western suburbs:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/west1.jpg

University campus:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/campus1.jpg

The football field in my neighbourhood:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/football.jpg

Pines in my area:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/pines1.jpg
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/pines2.jpg

The bomb-low at 12z
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/bomb1.jpg

and the winds associated with it:
http://dias.aueb.gr/~ikarag/pics/bomb2.jpg

It is currently overcast and there is still a light snow cover, mostly on
cars, house rooves and the grass.

Over one metre (!) of snow at the capital town of Samothraki isl in the NE
Aegean. Blizzards right now in the eastern Aegean isles (Samos, Icaria etc).
Heavy snowfalls reported at Mykonos and Milos. Dozens of villages are facing
road network problems and access to them has problematic since the morning.

Yannis, SE Athens
OVC, +1.1C, SLP 1003.0 hPa
http://www.e-kairos.gr/january04.html



Surely farmers must be worried? I don't know if citrus is grown in
Greece but olives must be at risk ?

JPG

An absolutely interesting Thursday for not only Athens, but most of Greece
really!

Thank you Yannis - interesting photos and thanks for the information you added.
I wonder how many photos of snowfall in Britain you will see posted on this
newsgroup next week...

Julian

Julian Mayes, West Molesey, Surrey.

"JJCMayes1" wrote in message
...
An absolutely interesting Thursday for not only Athens, but most of
Greece
really!

Thank you Yannis - interesting photos and thanks for the information you
added.
I wonder how many photos of snowfall in Britain you will see posted on
this
newsgroup next week...

Hundreds of them, I hope!

Yannis, SE Athens
-0.9C

In article ,
JJCMayes1 writes:
Thank you Yannis - interesting photos and thanks for the information you added.
I wonder how many photos of snowfall in Britain you will see posted on this
newsgroup next week...

pedant
None I hope, but just the links to them.
/pedant

(Just in case any recent arrivals to the group are unaware that
"binaries" such as photos should not be posted here.)
--
John Hall
"One half of the world cannot understand
the pleasures of the other."
From "Emma" by Jane Austen (1775-1817)

"JPG" wrote in message
...
Surely farmers must be worried? I don't know if citrus is grown in
Greece but olives must be at risk ?

The mass media are focusing on the loss of lives due to the cold weather in
Greece (ice day for most in continental areas, the northern Aegean and
inland Crete). No major damages have been reported in citrus or olive crops,
as both crops have been collected already. Last April was a disaster crops
in northern Greece, when cherry trees where in full blossom and temperatures
dropped to -7C after the snowfalls.

Noon and early afternoon (!) temperatures in northern Attica were hovering
around -6C.

Yannis, SE Athens
+2.9C and steady, a new trough is approaching
http://www.e-kairos.gr/january04.html