January 2022 Greek cold wave
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Storm Elpis. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2022. |
 Sepolia district, 2km northwest of Athens downtown | |
| Type | Cold wave |
|---|---|
| Formed | 23 January 2022 |
| Dissipated | 26 January 2022 |
| Lowest pressure | 1015 over Rhodes island |
| Lowest temperature | −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 70cm (29,55 inches approx.) [1] |
| Fatalities | 12 |
| Areas affected | Greece, Turkey |
The January 2022 Greek cold wave was a cold wave over Greece that started from January 23, 2022 until January 26, 2022, caused by Storm Elpis, also known as Storm Elpida in Greece.[2] The cold wave affected Athens and the Aegean islands of Andros, Santorini and Mykonos. Very low temperatures were recorded in the country; the lowest was recorded in Lefkochori, Phthiotis at −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F).[3] Due to the instability of the cold air passing through warm waters above the Aegean Sea, the wave also caused thundersnows in the regions of Euboea and Attica and a snowspout in Andros.[4][5][6][7]
Impact
Airports, schools, and vaccination centers were closed in some areas. Research director at the National Observatory of Athens Kostas Lagouvardos stated that the capital had not seen such winters since Storm Medea on February 16, 2021.[8][9] [10] Heavy snowfall forced authorities to close roads in the northern parts of the capital, causing heavy traffic. An emergency alert was sent to residents of Attica to warn them of bad weather conditions.[11] Motorists were stuck in their cars in Attiki Odos, the main ring road of Athens, for 24 hours. The Greek army was ordered to help motorists by delivering food, water, and blankets. Around 3500 people were saved from the ring road but 1200 cars remained stuck due to freezing conditions.[12][13] Fifteen passengers were injured when operators tried to pull a train stuck in the snow and carrying about 200 passengers.[14][15]
On February 2, neighboring Turkey, 12 people die due to hypothermia. [16]
Gallery
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picture of a road intersection in Sepolia district during storm Elpis -
snowblanketed road in sepolia district during the storm
See also
References
- ^ "historical cold wave 2022". antisimvatikos.blogspot. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Lagouvardos, Kostas. "Wild weather Elpis will bring dense snowfall and thundersnow". meteo. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "oi xamiloteres thermokrasies tis kakokairias Elpida(in greek)". in. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Wild storm in Greece brings thundersnow to Athens, 'snownado' to Greek island". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Wild storm in Greece brings thundersnow to Athens". msn. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Snow blankets Greece and Turkey as wild weather system creates rare 'snownado'". CNN. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Storm Elpida : rare snownado sweeps across Greece and Turkey". Express. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Heavy snow blankets Athens". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "In Pictures: Snow blankets Athens, Greek islands". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Snowstorm brings much of Turkey and Greece to a halt". dw. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Rare Snow Blizzard Causes Traffic Chaos in Athens". greekreporter. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Heavy Snow Strands Motorists in Greece". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Winter welcome: Stranded drivers freed in Istanbul, Athens". ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Greece Snowstorm: Thousands of drivers left stranded as storm hits Athens". BBC. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Thousands evacuated from Athens motorway as snowstorm hits Greece". Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "12 people found frozen to death, sparking diplomatic row between Turkey and Greece". KVOA. NBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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