Severe weather front “Ballos” – Kifissos and Poseidonos Avenues opened – Normal traffic

Kifissos Avenue and Poseidonos Avenue were opened one and a half hours before the end of the traffic ban due to the severe weather front “Ballos”.

Shortly after 06:30 on Friday, the roads were opened to traffic, which is now running normally.

It is noted that the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, had announced on Thursday night that from 01:00 after midnight until 08:00 on Friday morning, the passage of all cars, other vehicles and public transport  was prohibited along Kifissos Avenue and the coastal highway.

The next hours are crucial

However, the next two hours, until 9:00, are particularly critical for the evolution of the phenomenon. This is because, while the meteorologists were waiting for the phenomena from the  “Ballos” front to intensify at 3: 00-6: 00, this did not happen with the result that they do not rule out a slight postponement of the phenomenon.

Indicative are what the governor of Attica, Giorgos Patoulis, told MEGA TV. “According to meteorologists, the great intensity of bad weather is at 03:00 – 09:00 in the morning. We have not seen this yet. However, the phenomena sometimes move either in direction or the time period when they take place, so we have to wait for that.”

It is noted that on Friday in the early morning heavy rain occurred after 04:00 in Athens. Specifically, “Ballos” hit Attica with very intense storms. Shortly before one after midnight, heavy rain broke out in the areas of Korydallos and Aspropyrgos, as well as in Piraeus. Strong phenomena occurred during the night in Kalamata, Thrace, and Halkidiki.

The governor appealed to the citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, while explaining why the decision was made to close the schools in Attica today.

“We need to protect both children and teachers in terms of transportation,” he said.

Bad weather is hitting the Cyclades

Evia, Corfu as well as Kefalonia and Ithaca remain in the center of the bad weather. Also, the bad weather has hit the Cyclades and specifically Syros and Naxos.

When are severe weather phenomena expected to weaken?

The intense weather phenomena are expected to last until today. Specifically in the afternoon, the effects will weaken in the northwest, while in Attica, they are expected to be in effect until noon.

The bad weather will also affect Evia and Halkidiki at a later stage, while there is a serious possibility that islands in the Eastern Aegean will be affected, mainly Samos and Ikaria.

The measures that apply today

The public services in Attica will be closed, except for the ones necessary for the management of the phenomenon and the Services of the Local Self-Government Organizations.

Teleworking in Attica is encouraged throughout the private sector. It will contribute a lot to the decongestion of the roads, so that if the phenomenon worsens, we will be ready to act immediately and effectively.

Due to the evolution of the dangerous phenomenon, schools will remain closed in Corfu, Samos ,and Ikaria, as -as you know- we decided to close them down in Attica, Halkidiki and Evia.

The nurseries, the Centers for creative activities and the Centers for the disabled in Attica, Evia, Halkidiki, Corfu, Samos and Ikaria will remain closed.

All the necessary means will be utilized through private companies, so that the private sector will assist in dealing with the phenomena with the special machinery it has.