Severe Weather Alert: Storm Barbara Hits Greece

The news in Greek

1. καταιγίδα  (f.)
   έντονο καιρικό φαινόμενο με βροχές και δυνατούς ανέμους ↩︎
2. πτώση  (f.)
   μείωση σε ποσότητα ή ένταση ↩︎
3. επηρεάζω
   ασκώ επιρροή σε κάποιον ή κάτι ↩︎
4. ανατολικός
   που έχει κατεύθυνση προς την ανατολή, προς την κατεύθυνση που ανατέλλει ο ήλιος ↩︎
5. δυνατός
   που έχει μεγάλη δύναμη ή ένταση ↩︎
6. φαινόμενο  (n.)
   κάτι που παρατηρείται ή εμπειρεύεται, συχνά ασυνήθιστο ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What changes in the weather did Storm Barbara bring to Greece?

Question 2: Which areas in Greece are affected by Storm Barbara?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
καταιγίδα  (f.)	storm
πτώση  (f.)	fall
επηρεάζω	influence
ανατολικός	eastern
δυνατός	strong
φαινόμενο  (n.)	phenomenon

Read the full story

On Tuesday, Greece experienced a substantial shift in weather patterns as storm Barbara arrived, bringing widespread rain, thunderstorms, and a notable drop in temperatures. The adverse weather system, which developed over the Gulf of Genoa, reached Greece on Monday and continues to make its impact felt across the country.

According to meteorologists, the regions most affected include Thrace, the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, the northern Cyclades, and the Dodecanese. In these areas, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected, with some regions anticipated to experience particularly severe weather conditions until the afternoon.

Forecasts indicate substantial temperature drops, reaching as low as 18 degrees Celsius in northern Greece, with milder conditions of around 23 to 25 degrees Celsius in the south. However, the storm’s effects are widespread, and temporary rainfall is expected even in the capital city of Athens starting midday.

Winds are another significant factor in the current weather pattern. Strong gusts reaching up to 8 on the Beaufort scale are recorded, particularly in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. This presents potential challenges for maritime activities, as well as increased caution for those in affected coastal regions.

Meteorologist Georgios Tsatrafyllias has advised citizens to remain vigilant, particularly in the outlined regions most susceptible to intense weather. While the storm is expected to weaken by Wednesday, the current conditions contribute to the onset of a distinctly autumnal climate throughout the country.

Despite the intensity of storm Barbara, meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas has emphasized the absence of a severe cold front, suggesting that the current weather remains within autumn’s typical patterns without posing extreme risks. Furthermore, this period of rainfall is considered beneficial for the region’s water resources, marking a promising beginning for the 2025–2026 hydrological year.

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that the harsh weather will begin to subside from tomorrow, with a gradual return to seasonal norms by the end of the week. Winds are expected to persist at moderate levels, but the overall weather across Greece should improve, inviting a more stable and mild climate heading into the weekend.

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