Snowstorm Wallops Greece

A freak snowstorm stranded as many as 200 Greek villages and halted hundreds of flights yesterday and today in Athens, reports Bloomberg. Power and water supply problems were reported across the country and civil defense authorities were on alert. Up to six inches of snow buried the Greek capital, a rare occurrence in the usually balmy town, and temperatures plunged below zero.

The unprecedented storm dumped as much as 6 feet of snow in the mountains; near central Athens' snow-covered Acropolis, only cars with chains were permitted on powdered roads. Athens' subways were running but not suburban rail lines; schools and many shops were closed, according to officials. The weather was expected to improve later today. (More Greece stories.)