Severe weather front to continue until Wednesday

Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator said it was on alert for power cuts due to the weather, and had placed over 150 people on call on Evia island, hard hit by snow, and in Attica it had over 800 staff on call with special machinery and power generators among others, in addition to crews to handle trees that may fall on power lines.

Attica Region head of metropolitan infrastructure Panagiotis Kariotis told ANA-MPA there are 117 heavy machines, of which 58 are large snow plows with blades and salt-scatterer and 22 smaller ones, along with cranes and 4×4 cars to help people trapped in cars on roads and for possible transport to hospitals.

In Attica, traffic police has said drivers moving in the entire road network of the Attica prefecture must carry snow chains or other non-slip equipment.

Hellenic Train cancellations

Intercity trains 62 and 63 running between Athens and Thessaloniki and the 887 train service between Kalabaka and Athens have been cancelled due to the worsening weather, Hellenic Train announced on Monday evening.

Retailers to reopen after 11:00 am

Retail stores that were shut on Monday due to the weather may reopen as of 11:00 am on Tuesday in the north, northwest, and northeast Attica, a Development & Investments Ministry announcement said, following a coordination meeting under the Climate Change & Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianidis.

Stores in northern suburbs of Athens may also reopen, it said. Exemptions to the above are pharmacies and gas stations, which may open earlier.

At the same time, courier or delivery services in all of the above areas as well as in Magnissia, Fthiotida, Viotia, Evia, and the Sporades Islands, are suspended until 11:00 am on Tuesday because of icy conditions.

All Civil Protection services will remain on alert throughout the night, while the Civil Protection Ministry also cautioned all people to keep their outdoor movement to the bare minimum. Updated information on the road network will be available through the Greek police web page, while weather reports will be available on the National Meteorological Service, it said.

In addition, all cars must carry with them anti-skidding equipment, which the police will be checking for.

Late on Monday, updated weather reports said that weather phenomena will continue in Attica through the night with dense snowfall expected overnight along with icy conditions, especially in the north section of the region. The same is expected in the regions of Magnissia, Fthiotida, Viotia, Evia, and the Sporades Islands,