TRAVEL TUESDAY #61 - SNOWY ATHENS

“And finally Winter, with its bitin’, whinin’ wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow.” - Roy Bean 

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The climate in Greece is predominantly Mediterranean. However, due to the country’s unique geography, Greece has a remarkable range of micro-climates and local variations. To the west of the Pindus mountain range, the climate is generally wetter and has some maritime features. The east of the Pindus mountain range is generally drier and windier in summer. The highest peak is Mount Olympus, 2,918 metres. The north areas of Greece have a transitional climate between the continental and the Mediterranean climate. There are mountainous areas that have an alpine climate. Overall, people have in mind Greece as a country with mild climate, lovely hot summers with little rain and generally warm winters free from extremes of temperature and certainly no snow. This is usually the case, especially in the islands…

This Winter, however, has been different. Meteorologists last Wednesday warned that a high-pressure system from Siberia is to sweep into Greece on Thursday, bringing freezing temperatures and snow to many parts of the country, including the capital. And so it was, with the extreme weather system named “Ariadne” sweeping into Greece and blanketing the whole country in snow, in some areas as deep as two metres and sending the temperatures plummeting to minus 20˚C in some areas. In Athens, the temperature failed to rise above 0˚C and several of the islands were covered in snow, right up to the beach. Some of the Greek islands are home to thousands of migrants and many are being moved to temporary housing and heated tents.

Icy temperatures right across Europe have left more than 20 people dead causing much havoc with disruption to electricity supplies, freezing water mains and closing roads. Italy saw ferries and flights cancelled and schools in the south closed on Monday. Turkey has also been badly affected. The Bosphorus was closed to shipping as a heavy snowstorm hit Istanbul. At least 10 people died of cold in Poland. Night temperatures in Russia plunged to minus 30˚C. Normally milder Greece has witnessed temperatures of minus 15C in the north where an Afghan migrant died of cold last week and roads were closed.

Here is a photo of the unusual situation where the Acropolis of Athens is covered with snow… Unusual, but not rare. I remember when we used to live in Athens, it did snow in Winter for a day or two, usually mid- to late January. The snow never lasted long and the cold was not as bitter as presently. But snow we did see! If you like the cold and snow, now is the time to go see Greece dressed in white!

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme. 

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