Meteorologist says rain over Crete to ease Thursday as temperatures edge up

Meteorologist Dimitris Ziakopoulos says rain and local storms over Crete and the Dodecanese are expected to ease during Thursday, September 17, as the low-pressure system behind recent wet weather moves toward the eastern Mediterranean.

In his latest forecast analysis, Ziakopoulos said the system that brought showers and storms to Crete over the past 48 hours mainly affected western and southern Greece and is now shifting east. He said rain and local storms across Crete and the Dodecanese should gradually stop through the day. Winds are expected to blow north to northeast at 3 to 4 Beaufort in the west and 5 to 6 Beaufort in the east, while maximum temperatures in the Ionian and mainland Greece will rise slightly. Minimum temperatures will stay relatively low, meaning morning chill will still be noticeable inland on the mainland.

According to the forecast, Friday, September 18, should generally be free of rain across the country. North winds are expected to reach 6 Beaufort only locally in the southeastern Aegean and the Dodecanese, with temperatures showing a further small rise.

For Saturday, September 19, Ziakopoulos said there is a chance of local showers in the afternoon over mountainous areas of mainland Greece, while winds are not expected to exceed 5 Beaufort. Temperatures are forecast to run 2 to 3 degrees above seasonal norms, a trend consistent with a broader forecast pointing to persistent heat through Saturday in Crete.

On Sunday, September 20, he said the chances of local showers or isolated storms increase in Epirus and Macedonia, while no significant changes are expected in wind or temperature elsewhere. The outlook aligns with other model guidance suggesting Crete will see a milder cooling trend than mainland Greece as autumn approaches.