Greece Snow Storms - Advice and Information For British Travellers

Summary: Severe snow and gale force winds have disrupted traffic across Greece. Please refer to the advice and information below. The following types of infrastructure have been affected:

• The ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina
• The Athens national highway and roads in northern Athens suburbs
• Some roads in the Peloponnese, central Greece and the north of the country

Please note: According to the Athens Airport website, flights are currently operating as normal. However, it is important that you check your flight status before heading to the airport.

Advice for British travellers:

• Refer to flight arrival and departure details on the Athens Airport website
• Make sure that you only make essential journeys by car as the severe weather is causing widespread traffic congestion
• Contact your airline to confirm onward travel
• Call 999 from a UK mobile in Greece in an emergency - this will automatically transfer you to the Greek emergency services
• Contact the British Embassy in Athens on (0030) 210 7272 600 for further assistance

Greece is affected by bad weather conditions:

The unfavourable weather conditions hit Greece late on Monday, 7 March, just at the end of a bank holiday weekend. At the time, many motorists were returning from a three-day weekend due to Monday being the Ash Monday public holiday. The erratic weather conditions left several vehicles stranded on the sides of the road.

There have also been power cuts on a number of the islands in Athens and in other parts of the mainland, prompting some schools to close until the storms blow over.

An area of low pressure situated across eastern parts of the Mediterranean is currently causing gale force winds carrying speeds of up to 64km/h (40mph) and gusts reaching 128km/h (80mph).

Meteorologists have issued warnings for coastal flooding and low temperatures, which are expected to last for the next three days.