The weather front named 'Diomedes' which is affecting several areas in central Macedonia has forced the closure of many regional roads, with either snow or rainfall.

The Greek civil protection authorities are on high alert, it was reported on Tuesday evening, while the region has dispatched 100 snow removal machines to keep major roads accessible.

Roads in the regions of Imathia, Pieria and Chalkidiki areas have been closed to traffic, while car tire chains are required on the old Thessaloniki-Veria-Kozani national highway (94-98 km mark) via Kastrania. Chains are also necessary on the Thessaloniki-Ierissos old national highway (70-85 km mark), while other local roads are also similarly affected by icy conditions.

'Diomedes' is also affecting the entire region of Thessaly and the Sporades Islands, while severe nonstop rainfall over the area of Mt. Pilion has caused significant problems there.  According to the National Observatory of Athens/Meteo.gr station at Portaria, 340mm of rainfall was recorded in 16 hours alone, which is equivalent to one year's rainfall in Athens.