National Meteorological Service

Athens and southern parts of the country were again enveloped in Saharan dust on Tuesday, with hues of yellow and orange creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

The heavy concentration of dust particles affected most people with respiratory conditions "through the degradation of air quality," as pointed out by the Hellenic Pulmonary Society.

After the unseasonal balmy temperatures over the last few days, the weather will deteriorate in most parts of the country beginning on Friday until Saturday, with gale-force winds, rainstorms, lightning and local hail, according to a bulletin issued by the National Meteorological Service (EMY) on Thursday afternoon.

Significant rain will hit large parts of Greece from Friday to Saturday afternoon, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said in emergency bulletin issued on Thursday.

The wet spell will sweep in on Friday from the west and quickly spread to the central and northern parts of the country, affecting the Sporades, Evia, the Cyclades and later the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.

Significant rain will hit large parts of Greece from late Sunday to Monday afternoon, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) says, updating its weather forecast.

Rains and storms will start in western and southwestern Greece late Sunday and, by early morning, will also engulf most of the mainland, except for the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the northeast.

The National Meteorological Service (EMY) issued an emergency bulletin on Saturday, warning that storms are seen sweeping into Greece starting on Sunday and ending Monday night.

A weather system nicknamed Avgi that has brought heavy snow and a drop in temperatures across Greece since Sunday, is expected to last until Wednesday, the National Meteorological Service reported on Monday.

Temperatures will plummet from Saturday along the northern and mountainous regions of the country, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) has said.

The weekend cold front will be accompanied by stormy northerly gales in the Aegean, reaching force eight or nine, with significant rainfall expected along coastal areas.

A second wave of bad weather is expected within the next few days to hit Greece, with a significant drop in temperature and snowfall even at lower altitudes, according to meteorologists' forecasts.

The weather will steadily deteriorate from late Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening, according to an emergency advisory issued by the National Meteorological Service (EMY).

Heavy showers and thunderstorms, as well as strong gusts, will be the primary elements of the weather shift.

Local storms with strong wind and mild temperatures are forecast from late afternoon on Sunday until the evening hours of Monday.

The eastern and southern parts of the country expect local heavy rains and storms, hail and strong gusty winds.