In Athens, which generally has mild winters, during these short periods the weather becomes cold and rainy, and during the most intense cold waves it can even snow.

Sometimes Greece is affected by cold air masses from Northern Europe or Russia: in these cases, the temperature drops remarkably even in mild areas, and snow can occur in the northern plains (see Thessaloniki), and sometimes even in the central ones. In winter, temperatures in Greece progressively decrease as you head north: the average daily temperature in January is 12.5 ☌ (54.5 ☏) in Iraklion (on the southern island of Crete), 10 ☌ (50 ☏) in Athens, and 5.5 ☌ (42 ☏) in Thessaloniki. The rains are more abundant on the coasts exposed to the west, on the Ionian islands and on the islands close to Turkey ( Dodecanese). On coasts and islands of central and southern Greece, where the climate is Mediterranean, winter is mild and quite rainy. Finally, in the northern mountainous areas, winters are cold and snowy, while summers are mild, with possible afternoon thunderstorms. The northern cities, located in the inland areas of Epirus, Macedonia and Thessaly, have a slightly continental climate, with quite cold winters, during which air masses coming from the north can sometimes bring snow and frost, and hot summers, sometimes scorching. The climate of Greece, a country in south-eastern Europe, is Mediterranean on coasts and islands, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.

Average temp of a freeter