Despite the calendar showing May 3, the weather in Greece has resembled December. A cold front brought snow to mountainous regions, heavy rainfall to many areas, and stormy winds across the Aegean. Parnitha, Parnassus, and Kalavryta were covered in white, creating a winter wonderland.
Record Low Temperatures in Athens
The average 24-hour temperature on May 1, 2026, was 13.3 degrees Celsius, ranking among the four lowest since 1890 in Athens, specifically at Thissio. The coldest May 1 was in 1944 (average temperature 12.1 degrees Celsius), followed by May 1987 and 1988, with average temperatures of 12.7 and 13.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
On Saturday, May 2, the maximum 24-hour temperature at the Thissio climate station was 15.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest maximum temperature ever recorded for that specific date since 1890.
Climate Change Connection
Dimitra Founda, Research Director at IEPEBA, Athens Observatory, stated to ERTnews, “We are talking about an all-time record temperature (…). Although the climate always has strong natural variability, it is very likely that this entire phenomenon is connected to the climate crisis and change.”
According to measurements from the National Observatory of Athens, unusually low temperatures for the season were recorded during the first two days of May. Specifically, the average 24-hour temperature on May 1 was 13.3 degrees Celsius, ranking among the four lowest in the last 136 years in Athens.
The average 24-hour temperature on May 2 was 12.3 degrees Celsius, the second lowest since 1890 for that particular day, after the temperature recorded on May 2, 1944, which was 11.4 degrees Celsius.
Meteorologist Kostas Lagouvardos noted, “We are experiencing a very strong cold front, which is extreme for the season, with temperatures 12-13 degrees lower than normal for this time of year. These cold fronts, even for 2 or 3 days in May, are becoming increasingly rare. What now prevails is the continuous rise in temperature due to climate change.”
Impact and Public Reaction
Despite the extreme weather, no major problems were reported, and the public seemed to welcome this rare meteorological phenomenon. The images of heavy snow in the mountainous areas of the country brought back memories of the weather in May 1987, while the low temperatures recalled 1944, when the coldest May 1 in history was recorded.
The snowfall in Kalavryta on May 3, 2026, as captured by EUROKINISSI, further illustrates the unusual conditions. The cold snap, while surprising, did not lead to significant disruptions, and residents largely adapted to the unseasonable chill.
Forecast for the Coming Week
The snows of May are expected to give way to spring-like conditions, with temperatures rising to 30°C within the week. On Thursday, temperatures are forecast to increase further, reaching 28-30 degrees in mainland areas and 24-27 degrees in island regions. Today, May 4, temperatures are expected to reach up to 22 degrees, with some rain and thunderstorms in certain areas. Winds will be northerly at 6 to 7 Beaufort, locally 8 Beaufort in the east.
Source: newsit.gr
