Holidaymakers on the Greek islands, in Cyprus and in Turkey are not having a particularly pleasant time at the moment. The weather is set to remain changeable until the end of the weekend, with frequent downpours, thunderstorms and, in the Aegean, strong winds as well.

Crete has been particularly hard hit: there has already been flooding and landslides along the north coast. And the risk of severe weather remains high, as further heavy rain is forecast over the next few days.

If you look towards the Caucasus, between Georgia and Russia, winter is already making its presence felt, with up to half a metre of fresh snow. The reason for the unsettled weather is a large low-pressure system over the eastern Mediterranean.