Balkans Hit by Extreme Temperature Swings, Greece Braces for Major Flooding

The Balkans were hit by unusual temperature fluctuations last week, with a striking gap between daytime highs and nighttime lows—a phenomenon known as the diurnal range. In Kosanica, Montenegro, the temperature difference reached 30 degrees Celsius on 4 and 5 October, far exceeding the October average of only about 11 degrees. The conditions were driven by a long-lasting high-pressure system, bringing abundant sunshine during the day, while clear, cloudless skies accelerated heat release into the atmosphere at night.

According to meteorological analysis, this anomaly is not merely a local record. The expansive high pressure over northern and western Europe in the coming week will push a low-pressure system southward toward the Mediterranean. The system is expected to strengthen as it crosses the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, then move east into the Aegean Sea midweek. As a result, Greece is bracing for heavy rain and strong winds, with rainfall expected to reach 50-150 mm, the highest around the island of Skiathos.

For Greece, the threat comes just a week after severe flooding struck Crete, dragging cars and trees into the sea. Local authorities are now on alert for potential follow-up flooding, especially in coastal areas and small islands. Meanwhile, in another part of the world, Typhoon Simon—a category 4 storm—is approaching Mexico's Pacific coast near the state of Jalisco. Simon is the 21st named storm of the season in the Pacific, with 11 of them reaching storm strength.

"The low-pressure system passing from the Adriatic to the Aegean will bring heavy rain, and we urge residents in flood-prone areas to increase their vigilance," said a Greek meteorological official, as quoted from a regional weather report.

Typhoon Simon currently has a central pressure of 933 mb and winds of up to 241 km/h. However, if the storm's core moves inland, its strength is predicted to decline rapidly as it loses its supply of warm ocean water. Nevertheless, heavy rain still threatens southwestern Mexico with accumulations of 300-400 mm, even up to 500 mm in the wettest locations.

This extreme weather phenomenon highlights an increasingly frequent pattern: shifts in pressure systems that trigger extreme temperature contrasts and high rainfall in a short time. For Indonesia, although geographically distant, such global atmospheric dynamics can influence monsoon patterns and the potential for hydrometeorological disasters. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) often reminds that sea surface temperature anomalies and pressure movements in other parts of the world can affect domestic weather, especially during seasonal transitions.

Going forward, the question is not only how quickly Greece and Mexico recover from the storm's impact, but also how far other countries—including Indonesia—strengthen early warning systems and adaptation to increasingly unpredictable extreme weather. Is our infrastructure and preparedness sufficient to face such climate shocks?