Athens (GCT) – Greece is grappling with an extraordinary weather shift, as record-breaking March heat gives way to forecasts of snow and frost, meteorologists warned Sunday.
On March 16, 2025, temperatures spiked to 33.7°C (92.66°F) in Lasithi, Crete—the highest March reading ever recorded, per the Athens National Observatory. Central Greece’s Livadia hit 31.4°C the previous day, with stations nationwide logging May-like warmth. “These highs set new March records across many areas,” Meteo.gr reported, attributing the surge to Saharan dust in the air.
“This early heat is unprecedented,” meteorologist Panagiotis Giannopoulos told ERT television. Yet the reprieve is short-lived: a cold front arrives Tuesday, bringing showers, snow, and a sharp temperature drop. “Athens will fall from 27°C today to 11°C—a true rollercoaster,” he added.
The abrupt change threatens agriculture, particularly in northern Macedonia, where frost could devastate blooming fruit trees after weekend highs of 27°C. A wildfire-driven ban on rural burning remains in effect until March 18.
Greece, a climate change hotspot, saw its hottest summer and warmest winter in 2024, alongside extreme weather events. This winter ranks as the 13th warmest, following 2023-2024’s record-breaking heat.