Balkan temperatures swing as heavy rain heads for Greece

In Kosanica, Montenegro, the average maximum temperature in October is 15C (59F), with an average minimum of 4C. However, on October 4 and 5, the difference between daytime highs and overnight lows reached 30C, more than double the typical October average.

Elsewhere in Europe, high pressure is building across the north and west, pushing a low-pressure system south towards the Mediterranean. This system is expected to deepen as it crosses the Adriatic and Ionian seas before moving east into the Aegean Sea by mid-week. Consequently, Greece is anticipated to experience spells of heavy rain and strong winds, with forecast models suggesting widespread rainfall of 50-150mm, particularly around the island of Skiathos. Towards the end of the week, the system is projected to continue eastward, bringing showers to parts of Crete, which was recently hit by severe flooding.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon, a Category 4 storm, is nearing Mexico’s Pacific coast, close to the state of Jalisco. This is the 21st named storm of the Pacific season, with 11 reaching hurricane strength. At the time of reporting, Simon had a central pressure of 933mb and maximum sustained winds of nearly 150mph (241km/h). However, the hurricane is expected to weaken rapidly if it makes landfall, cutting off its access to warm ocean waters. Heavy rainfall is also affecting southwestern Mexico, with totals potentially reaching 300-400mm across a wide area, and up to 400-500mm in the wettest locations.