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| Thessaloniki was dressed in white |
Thessaloniki: The snowstorm continues to test Northern and Central Greece, where in almost all areas the landscape is "white" and the cold polar, with the unprecedented -in intensity and duration- wave of bad weather creating significant problems in transportation and everyday life.
In all the municipalities, which were hit in the last hours by the snow, the Local Government crews made an overnight effort to deal with the problems, while for one more day the schools in Northern Greece, in their vast majority, remain closed.
In Thessaloniki the thermometer showed -4 degrees Celsius in the morning. The city's main roads are open, but drivers are moving at low speeds due to the frost that has formed on many roads.
The schools of primary and secondary education in the whole prefecture of Thessaloniki are closed, while the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of "Macedonia" and the "Alexandrio" TEI will not operate.
Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, all those determined for criminal and political trials in the courts of Thessaloniki are postponed, while the cases that were interrupted for Wednesday will continue normally after 10 in the morning. The courthouse in the city, however, operates normally from 8 in the morning.
Flights to and from Macedonia Airport are currently operating normally, where many flights were canceled due to the snowfall on Tuesday and the operation of the airport was restored late in the afternoon.
There are 208 OASTH city buses that run around - with an emergency plan - from 5 in the morning in Thessaloniki, 44 of which with anti-skid chains, the President of the Organization, Christos Stefanidis, noted at the Athens Agency.
Drivers moving on the roads of Polygyros, Michanionas, Epanomi, Lagada to Sochos and Askos, Pente Vrises-Vertiskos, Livadia-Peristera, Zagliveri-Petrokerasa, as well as to Sourotos to Agouton must be equipped with anti-skid chains. Oreokastro, Filiro, Panorama, Chortiatis, Asvestochori and Exochi. At the same time, the entry of trucks over 3,5 tons is prohibited on the inland Ring Road, on the National Road Thessaloniki-Kavala from the 12th km to the 96th km and on the National Road Thessaloniki-Athens, from the junction of the Vegetable Market to the Ring Road.
In Central Macedonia, chains are needed for vehicles moving along the entire national and provincial road network of the prefectures of Halkidiki, Kilkis and Serres, and on several -mainly- provincial roads of Imathia, Pella and Pieria.
Polar cold prevails in Western Macedonia, where Florina and Ptolemaida dawned with -18 degrees Celsius and with -14 Grevena, while shortly after 7 in the morning the mercury in these cities "showed" from -13 to -10 degrees Celsius.
Chains or snow tires are needed by drivers on the national and provincial road network of the prefectures of Florina and Kozani, and on sections of provincial roads of Kastoria and Grevena.
In Central Greece, it snows in the prefectures of Trikala and Karditsa, putting on alert the municipal authorities and the regional units of the prefectures.
By decision of the Municipal Authority of the Municipality of Karditsa, all schools of the Municipality are closed. Municipal kindergartens operate normally.
Also, with a decision of the mayor of Trikala, Dimitris Papastergiou, today the schools in his area of responsibility will remain closed. On the contrary, the kindergartens and nurseries of the municipality will be open.
The roads in the provincial network are open, but the use of anti-skid chains is necessary, both in the provincial and in the national network.
Heavy snowfall hits Magnesia resulting in problems in road transport, but also in the water supply of the urban complex of Volos.
The temperature is stuck at -4 degrees, the water supply system of the city is frozen and there is great damage to the water supply system of DEYAMB, as a result of which most of Volos is not supplied with water.
The snow has exceeded 15 cm in the center even on the beach of Volos, while in the northern suburbs it has reached 40 cm. Cars are difficult to move with only anti-skid chains, despite the fact that snow machines try to keep the highways open.
Salt and water tankers of the municipality of Volos throw tons of salt and sea water on the roads to melt the snow and facilitate the movement of cars.
Also, public transport has been stopped not only to the suburbs, but also in the center of Volos.
The roads to Pelion, from the Ring Road and above, are open, but the movement is done only with the use of anti-skid chains.
Heavy snowfalls hit Epirus from the early hours of the morning, creating problems on the roads.
Already in the city of Ioannina and Arta the snow exceeds 30 points. The snow machines have taken to the streets but due to the snowstorm the roads are refilled with snow within a few minutes.
The Civil Protection since yesterday has thrown salt in many streets, especially outside the hospitals.
A similar snowfall has occurred in the city of Ioannina since 1987.
The Epirus Traffic Police is expected to take measures to prevent road accidents in the next hour.
The municipalities advise the citizens to limit their movements to the absolutely necessary ones and to be especially careful due to the frost.
Source: philenews