Bad weather ATENA: Barrage of 112 messages – Which areas will “hit” in the next few hours – 2024-09-10 05:21:48

The security bodies and the Armed Forces will be on maximum operational readiness to deal with the effects of any flooding phenomena from the bad weather “ATENA”, which has begun to “show its teeth” in areas of Western Greece.

Strong storms, hail, and sharp strengthening of the winds will shape the weather scene in the next few hours. According to Mega meteorologist Christina Rigou, this is a dangerous phenomenon and citizens should be aware of falling trees and other objects due to the strong winds.

In fact, intense lightning activity may cause fires in the country.

The phenomena began today, Monday evening, and will continue to affect the Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Central Greece and Western Peloponnese until noon on Tuesday. From there there will be an eastern transformation of the phenomena. The bad weather will pass through Thessaly, Macedonia. In Attica, the weather will be unsettled with rains, without much intensity.

From Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon, the phenomena will affect Thrace, the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.

As for the temperature, a drop of 5 to 6 degrees is expected in the mountainous areas. In Athens, the temperature will reach up to 29 degrees Celsius.

Watch ATENA’s progress live

Thodoris Kolidas posted a video of the bad weather moving in until midday on Wednesday:

The movement of bad weather #ATHENS until noon on Wednesday @EMY_HNMS @CivPro_GR @Starchannelnew1 @Vkikilias @pyrosvestiki pic.twitter.com/liSFrkrB4p

— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) September 9, 2024

The heavens opened in Igoumenitsa

Heavy rains are occurring in Igoumenitsa, which has led the city’s Central Port Authority to issue an urgent announcement to take increased security measures, due to dangerous weather phenomena.

In particular, the Central Port Authority of Igoumenitsa calls on all competent authorities, such as the Police Department of Thesprotia, the Fire Service, local municipalities and agencies, as well as professional fishermen and owners of pleasure boats, to take increased prevention and preparedness measures. It is recommended:

• To Professional Fishermen and Boat Owners: Avoid any marine activity during hazardous weather and ensure their boats are tied up and secured.
• To residents and visitors of coastal areas: Avoid travel near the coast and avoid marine activities.
• To maritime and port authorities: To inform their area agencies and bodies of the current situation and ensure that all security measures are in place.

Barrage of messages from 112

Due to the intense danger, the 112 notification has already sounded in Patras, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Megalopoli, Volos and Corfu, which warns of extreme weather phenomena and calls on citizens to limit their movements from the afternoon until tomorrow noon.

In fact, there were also the relevant recommendations from Vassilis Kikilia. In the relevant meeting that took place, it was decided that the project machinery that the Armed Forces have should be on standby with the aim of immediate intervention if necessary.

The forecast of the EMY for the course of the bad weather

1. From Monday evening (09-09-24) until noon on Tuesday (10-09-24) in the Ionian Islands, Epirus, western Sterea and western Peloponnese. The phenomena during the night until the morning hours of Tuesday (10-09-24) are predicted to be particularly intense.
2. From the dawn of Tuesday (10-9-2024) until the late afternoon in western Macedonia and Thessaly.
3. From the early hours of Tuesday (10-09-24) until noon on Wednesday (11-09-24) in central and eastern Macedonia and the Sporades.
4. From the evening of Tuesday (10-09-24) until the afternoon hours of Wednesday (11-09-24) in Thrace and the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean.

The recommendations of the civil protection

In particular, in areas where heavy rains, storms or gale-force winds are predicted, the Public Health Service recommends to citizens:

• To secure objects which, if carried away by severe weather conditions, may cause damage or injury.
• Make sure that the gutters and downspouts of the houses are not blocked and are working properly.
• Avoid crossing torrents and streams, on foot or by vehicle, during storms and rainfall, but also for several hours after the end of their event.
• Avoid outdoor work and activities in marine and coastal areas during severe weather events (risk of lightning strikes).
• Take shelter immediately during a hailstorm. Take shelter in a building or car and do not leave the safe area until they are sure the storm has passed. Hail can be very dangerous for animals too.
• Avoid passing under large trees, under posted signs and in general areas where light objects (e.g. pots, broken glass, etc.) can become detached and fall to the ground (e.g. under balconies) .
• To faithfully follow the instructions of the local authorities, such as Traffic, etc.

In areas with intense lightning activity:

If you are at home

• Do not hold electrical appliances or the telephone as lightning can pass through the wires. Disconnect the TV sets from the antenna and the power supply.
• Avoid touching plumbing pipes (kitchen, bathroom) as they are good conductors of electricity.

If you are in the car

• Park it on the side of the road and away from trees that might fall on it.
• Stay inside and turn on your stop warning lights (emergency lights) until the storm clears.
• Close windows and do not touch metal objects.
• Avoid flooded roads.

If you are outdoors

• Take refuge in a building or car or sit on the ground immediately without lying down.
• Take cover under solid branches of low trees if you are in the woods.
• Never take shelter under a tall tree in an open area.
• Avoid low-lying lands for the risk of flooding.
• Do not stand next to utility poles, power lines, telephone lines and fences.
• Do not approach metal objects (eg cars, bicycles, camping equipment, etc.).
• Stay away from rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.
• If you are in the sea, get out immediately.
• If you’re isolated on a flat surface and feel your hair stand on end (signaling that lightning is about to strike), sit deep with your head between your legs (to minimize your body surface area and contact with the ground ) by throwing the metal objects you have on you.