Corfu Prepares for Worsening Weather Conditions: Heavy Rains and Strong Winds Expected
Corfu, January 28, 2026 – The atmospheric circulation over the Central Mediterranean continues to favor the formation and movement of barometric lows from Italy towards the Ionian Sea. Over the next two days, Wednesday and Thursday, two successive weather systems are expected to bring a new wave of adverse weather to Corfu, featuring heavy rains, showers, and localized thunderstorms, primarily affecting the Northern Ionian region.
Accompanying these systems will be a significant strengthening of southerly winds, while temperatures are expected to remain slightly above seasonal averages before experiencing a slight drop on Thursday.
Wednesday, January 28 – Deterioration from Mid-Morning Onwards
From the mid-morning hours until late Wednesday evening, residents can expect:
- Localized rainfall across many areas of the prefecture.
- Intermittently intense showers.
- A possibility of isolated, brief thunderstorms, mainly in marine and coastal areas.
The intensity of these phenomena will vary considerably from region to region. Certain zones of the island, depending on their topography and exposure to southerly winds, may experience more severe and significant weather events. In mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, the orographic enhancement of rain-bearing clouds due to strong southerly winds increases the likelihood of higher rainfall totals, especially on slopes facing south.
Thursday, January 29 – Unstable Weather with Intermittent Phenomena
Throughout Thursday, the weather pattern will remain unstable. Forecasts indicate:
- Scattered rainfall.
- Localized showers.
- A possibility of thunderstorms in selected areas.
Even if the center of the barometric low approaches ~994 hPa from the west, this does not necessarily mean that phenomena will occur everywhere, as the system’s trajectory may keep rainfall away from certain areas.
Winds – Significant Strengthening
Wednesday: Winds will shift to southeasterly. In the Diapontia Islands, winds are expected to reach 6 Beaufort, with frequent gusts up to 7 Beaufort and occasional bursts up to 8 Beaufort. Along the western coasts and Paxos, winds will be around 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 Beaufort, with momentary gusts up to 7 Beaufort.
Thursday: Initially, southerly to southeasterly winds will prevail, later shifting to easterly. By late night, winds will turn northwesterly. In the Diapontia Islands and western coasts, winds will be 4-5 Beaufort, with gusts up to 6 Beaufort. Paxos will experience local winds up to 6 Beaufort, with temporary gusts up to 7 Beaufort.
Temperature Fluctuations
Wednesday:
- Lowlands/coastal areas: 15-16°C
- Mountainous/semi-mountainous areas: 9-11°C
Thursday: A slight drop in maximum temperatures is expected, reaching 12-13°C in lowlands and 9-10°C in mountainous areas. Minimum temperatures will remain close to Wednesday’s levels.
Fog and Humidity
Localized fog may appear in elevated areas frequently affected by low humidity clouds from the south. Humidity will remain high, especially during nighttime and early morning hours.
Previous Storms – Brief Overview
On Monday, January 26, strong rains and thunderstorms occurred in many parts of the country. According to the Lightning Imager (LI) of Meteosat-12, by 17:30, 43,295 electrical discharges were recorded, of which 5,644 were over land and 37,651 over sea. Cumulative rainfall totals exceeded 100 mm in Eastern Macedonia and the Peloponnese (Volakas 154 mm, Sparta 114 mm).
Advice to Residents
The upcoming two-day period requires some caution, mainly due to the strengthened winds and localized intense phenomena. The situation does not cause alarm, but residents are advised to stay informed and exercise caution when traveling.
*Nikolaos Vlachos, Amateur Meteorologist & Forecaster
Source: Corfu TV News
