THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1981: Snow accumulates in parts of Greece and Tunisia

Episode Details

Bitter cold air moved westward out of Siberia in the first week of January 1981 and settled in across much of the European continent. Temperatures remained below freezing night and day in Germany and France and across the British isles and southward to the Mediterranean coast. Northern Italy and Greece were not spared the arctic chill. On the southern end of the Siberian airmass a large storm formed in north Africa and moved westward. By the time the powerful storm reached the southern part of Greece it resulted in 4 days of wild weather from January 8-11. Snow fell in parts of Greece as well as Tunisia where 2" accumulated. This was the first snow in Tunisia in 26 years. There were floods in Turkey and dust storms in Libya. Travel in those areas that experienced snow on the Mediterranean coast experienced travel disruptions for days.

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1981: Snow accumulates in parts of Greece and Tunisia

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