Rare Snowfall Blankets Greek Islands on New Year's Day 2026

Unusual Winter Scenes Across the Aegean

New Year's Day 2026 brought an extraordinary meteorological event to several Greek islands, as a rare and significant snowfall blanketed regions typically unaccustomed to such winter conditions. Islands including Naxos, Lemnos, Tinos, and Samothrace awoke to a white landscape, marking a memorable start to the new year.

Lemnos Transformed into an 'Arctic Wonderland'

Among the most affected was the island of Lemnos, which experienced widespread and heavy snowfall, resulting in what was described as 100% snow coverage. Satellite imagery captured by the European Sentinel-2 satellite on January 1, 2026, dramatically illustrated Lemnos's transformation into an 'Arctic wonderland,' a sight more commonly associated with polar regions than the Aegean Sea. Residents of Lemnos shared numerous photos and videos on social media, showcasing snow-covered streets and fields, and enjoying the rare spectacle. Due to ongoing frost, municipal services on Lemnos were delayed, commencing operations later in the morning on January 2nd.

Other islands also witnessed significant snowfall:

• On Tinos, mountainous villages such as Arnados, Triantaros, Dio Choria, Falatados, Steni, Kechros, and Mesi saw temporary snowfall, with sleet reported at lower altitudes and in Tinos town.
• Naxos recorded heavy snowfall, particularly in its villages like Koronos.
• Samothrace and Thasos also experienced heavy snowfall.

Cold Snap Triggers Unusual Weather

The rare snowfall was a direct consequence of a 'biting cold snap' and a 'strong cold air outbreak' that swept across Greece around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2026. Meteorologists had issued warnings about this significant drop in temperatures, which were forecast to be 4 to 5 degrees Celsius below seasonal averages. The cold air mass brought the possibility of low-altitude snowfall, even reaching sea level in some northern Aegean island regions. Experts, including meteorologist Yiannis Kallianos, had predicted a 'polar air mass' descending on the country, creating a brief but intense window for snow.

Brief Interlude of Winter Before Milder Conditions

Despite the intensity of the cold and the unusual snowfall, the wintry conditions were expected to be short-lived. Forecasts indicated a gradual improvement in weather and a reduction of phenomena from January 2nd, with temperatures anticipated to rise significantly by the weekend, reaching up to 20°C in southern Greece. This rapid transition highlights the dynamic weather patterns experienced across the country during the New Year period.