THESSALONIKI – A cold front bringing snow and heavy rain that has swept across northern and central Greece since Sunday, reaching as far south as Lamia, left many areas covered in snow on Monday morning and led to flight cancellations and delays at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki, while many schools stayed closed.

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, especially. The municipality of Edessa warned the public to beware and report tree branches at risk of breaking due to the weight of the snow, while municipal crews throughout northern Greece are battling to keep roads open.

Schools throughout northern and central Greece have stayed closed due to the bad weather.

Areas of Central Greece with an altitude above 200 metres also woke on Monday to find that snow had settled overnight, while elsewhere the region experienced heavy rain with authorities concerned about possible flooding of the Sperchios River.

Cars travelling in the Domokos area on the road to Karditsa and Trikala are required to have snow chains. Snow chains are also essential on the Lamia-Karpenissi road, with heavy snow in Karpenissi and snowfall throughout Evritania.

Talking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA), the head of the civil protection sector of the Central Macedonia Region Haralambos Stergiadis said the snowfall was severe and was forecast to continue for several hours, while temperatures were expected to drop sharply on Thursday, with a risk of ice forming.

There is also light snowfall in the centre of Thessaloniki, which has led to serious traffic congestion in the city.

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)

The deep snow cover has caused problems on the road network in the northern Greek regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (Photo by MotionTeam/Vasilis Ververidis)