- Schools and shops in Athens were forced to shut and traffic was halted as storm Barbara swept across the country
- The heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures also saw some metro stations close to the city’s international airport shut down
- The cold snap was expected to last until mid-week, gradually affecting eastern and southern regions, including the island of Crete
ATHENS, Greece: Schools and shops in Athens were forced to shut and traffic was halted as storm Barbara swept across the country.
The heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures also saw some metro stations close to the city’s international airport shut down and train routes to the northern city of Thessaloniki suspended.
Authorities urged the public to avoid non-essential travel.
The cold snap was expected to last until mid-week, gradually affecting eastern and southern regions, including the island of Crete.
Heavy snow is rare in the Greek capital, but the country has now been hit by extreme weather for a third consecutive winter. Until this week’s snow, winter in Greece has been unusually mild this year.
