Greece Records Coldest May Day in 70 Years

Snow on Mount Olympus. Homer describes Olympus as a place unshaken by wind, untouched by rain, and free of snow, where the gods dwell in everlasting serenity and splendor.
Visuals from Mount Olympus capture the intensity of this weather system, showing heavy fog accumulation and fresh snowfall. File photo. Credit: Alina Zienowicz / Wikimedia commons CC BY-SA 3.0

This year’s May Day has officially been recorded as the coldest in Greece in the last seventy years, as a sudden weather shift brought “winter” back to many parts of the country.

A sharp drop in temperature, accompanied by strong northern winds and heavy rainfall, resulted in an unusual scene for the season. Mercury levels plunged significantly below the seasonal average for early May.

Regional highlights

In Northern and Central Greece, maximum temperatures struggled to exceed 12–14°C (53.5°F-57°F), while in mountainous regions, unexpected snowfall was reported at higher altitudes.

Visuals from Mount Olympus capture the intensity of this weather system, showing heavy fog accumulation and fresh snowfall. The landscape has been transformed into a stark white scenery that feels more like Christmas than the beginning of May.

The capital of Athens recorded a high of only 14°C (57°F), breaking long-standing records. For comparison, Athens saw 17°C (62.5°F) in 1987 and 16°C (almost 61°F) in 1944.

Meteorologists describe the phenomenon as a “cold invasion,” transforming a traditionally spring holiday into a mid-winter experience. However, this cold snap is expected to be short-lived. According to weather experts, temperatures will begin a gradual climb early next week, returning the country to typical spring conditions.

“It is the coldest May Day in 70 years,” noted meteorologist Panagiotis Giannopoulos, highlighting the historic nature of this temperature drop.

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