Storm Adel puts western Greece on red alert

The news in Greek

1. κακοκαιρία  (f.)
   περίοδος με πολύ άσχημο καιρό, με βροχές, κρύο, αέρα ή καταιγίδες ↩︎
2. καταιγίδα  (f.)
   ισχυρή βροχή με πολύ αέρα, συχνά με αστραπές και βροντές ↩︎
3. συναγερμός  (m.)
   έντονη προειδοποίηση για κίνδυνο, ώστε οι άνθρωποι να είναι έτοιμοι ↩︎
4. αρχή  (f.)
   οι δημόσιες υπηρεσίες και οι υπεύθυνοι οργανισμοί ενός κράτους ή μιας πόλης ↩︎
5. οδηγία  (f.)
   πληροφορίες που εξηγούν τι πρέπει να κάνει κάποιος, κατευθύνσεις για σωστή δράση ↩︎
6. πλημμυρισμένος
   γεμάτος με πολύ νερό, καλυμμένος από νερό λόγω πλημμύρας ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What kinds of weather does Storm Adel bring to Greece from Wednesday to Friday?

Question 2: What do the authorities tell people to do during the storm?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
κακοκαιρία  (f.)	bad weather
καταιγίδα  (f.)	thunderstorm
συναγερμός  (m.)	alarm
αρχή  (f.)	authorities
οδηγία  (f.)	instruction
πλημμυρισμένος	flooded

Read the full story

Greece is facing a period of severe weather as the storm system “Adel” moves in from the west, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong southerly winds to much of the country from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 November.

The Greek National Meteorological Service (EMY) has issued a rare red warning for dangerous weather, while the General Secretariat for Civil Protection has placed the regions of Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Greece and Peloponnese in a special state of readiness known as “Red Code”. Authorities say the decision follows upgraded forecasts and an assessment by the national Risk Evaluation Committee.

Meteorologists describe Adel as a deep low-pressure system that will create widespread instability and repeated waves of rain. According to forecasts, the storm is already affecting western Greece and is expected to peak on Thursday and Friday, when the most intense conditions are likely.

On Wednesday, the strongest rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast for the Ionian islands (including Corfu, Paxoi and the Diapontia islands) and for Epirus, especially in the morning and midday. From the afternoon, severe weather is expected to spread to Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos, Aetolia-Acarnania and the western and southern Peloponnese. By night, conditions are predicted to worsen in eastern Macedonia, while the rest of the country will see cloud, showers and occasional storms of lower intensity.

Several forecasters note that the next 48 hours will be crucial. On Thursday, strong to very strong rain, thunderstorms, possible hail and gale-force southerly winds are expected over most of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea, parts of the Aegean and the Dodecanese“very significant”, with particularly large rainfall totals likely in the Ionian islands, western mainland, eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

On Friday, unsettled weather is forecast to continue almost nationwide. Heavy rain and storms are expected to focus on central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the eastern Aegean and, during the early hours, parts of western Greece. Forecasts also mention temporary snowfall in higher mountain areas of Epirus, Macedonia, Thessaly and western Central Greece, as slightly cooler air arrives.

The storm is also expected to affect major urban centres. In the region of Attica, which includes Athens, cloud and showers are forecast to increase from Wednesday afternoon, with scattered thunderstorms more likely from late Thursday and during Friday. In Thessaloniki in northern Greece, light rain is expected to strengthen late on Wednesday night, turning to heavier showers and storms into Thursday and Friday. Meteorologists warn that both metropolitan areas face a non-negligible risk of local flooding, although smaller than in some western and northern regions.

Detailed projections from Greek forecasters identify a number of high-risk areas for potential flooding, especially where the ground is already saturated from earlier storms. These include parts of the Ionian Sea region (such as Corfu, Paxoi, Lefkada, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos), sections of Epirus and western mainland Greece, much of the western and southern Peloponnese, coastal and low-lying zones of eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and islands of the eastern Aegean and Dodecanese like Chios, Samos, Ikaria and Kos.

For some islands, local authorities are taking preventive measures. In Corfu, where the risk level is classed as red until Friday, all schools and the local university have been closed for Wednesday, following an emergency coordination meeting in the central municipality. A specialised rescue unit trained for fast-moving water from the city of Ioannina has also been sent to Corfu to support the Fire Service if necessary.

Across the country, southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the event, reaching 6–7 on the Beaufort scale in many sea areas, and possibly 8 Beaufort in the northern Aegean at times. These winds may cause rough seas and could disrupt marine and coastal activities. At the same time, temperatures will remain relatively mild for late November, generally between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius, before dropping slightly from Thursday night onwards, especially in the north and northwest.

Greek weather services also note a likely transport of dust from North Africa, especially on Wednesday, which may combine with rain and lead to so-called “mud rain” in some areas. This phenomenon may temporarily reduce visibility and affect air quality, though forecasts differ on how widespread it will be.

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has circulated a detailed list of safety recommendations to the public. Citizens are advised to secure loose objects such as plant pots or outdoor furniture, which could be blown away by strong gusts, and to ensure that gutters and drains are not blocked. Authorities strongly urge people to avoid crossing streams or flooded roads on foot or by car during and immediately after heavy rain, and to pay particular attention where roads intersect with rivers or torrents without bridges.

During thunderstorms, residents are also reminded to stay indoors or in a vehicle, avoid working outdoors or swimming, and not to shelter under large trees or near unstable structures. The guidance includes advice to unplug electrical devices and to avoid touching metal plumbing, as lightning can travel through cables and pipes. Drivers are told to stop safely away from trees during storms, keep windows closed and not to attempt to drive through deep water.

Regional and local authorities, including municipal services, emergency responders and traffic police, have been placed on heightened alert to act quickly in case of flooding, landslides or other damage. The government states that all relevant ministries and services have been informed and that response plans are in place while storm Adel passes over Greece between Wednesday and the weekend.

According to current forecasts, the weather should gradually become less intense from Saturday. Conditions are then expected to remain unsettled but milder, with scattered showers and a further small drop in temperature, especially in central and northern Greece, while the eastern Aegean and Dodecanese may still experience occasional thunderstorms.

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