High temperatures will continue across most of Greece on Wednesday, August 26, with the mercury reaching 39°C and a Red Code fire warning in place for the Ionian Islands. Temperatures are expected to begin falling from Thursday.
According to the meteo forecast, heatwave conditions will prevail in some areas, while nighttime temperatures will remain high in urban centers. Winds will reach up to 6 on the Beaufort scale.
Temperatures in Western Macedonia will range from 19°C to 35°C, while in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace they will range from 22°C to 36-38°C. In Thessaly, temperatures will range from 23°C to 39°C, while in Epirus they will range from 20°C to 36-37°C. In the rest of mainland Greece, temperatures will range from 23°C to 37-39°C, locally reaching 40°C. Temperatures in the Ionian Islands will range from 24°C to 35-36°C, while in the Aegean islands they will range from 23°C to 32-35°C. In Crete, temperatures will range from 26°C to 35°C, reaching 37°C in southern Crete, while maximum temperatures in the eastern Aegean Islands will locally reach 39°C.
Winds will blow from northerly directions and from westerly directions in the south, with speeds of 4 to 6 on the Beaufort scale.
Weather in Attica and Thessaloniki
In Attica, skies will be generally clear. Winds will be light and variable, while temperatures will range from 27°C to 38°C, locally reaching 39°C.
In Thessaloniki, generally clear weather is forecast, with some clouds during the afternoon. Winds will be variable at 2 to 4 on the Beaufort scale, while temperatures will range from 23°C to 36°C.
39.7°C in Elliniko
Heatwave conditions prevailed in many parts of Greece on Tuesday, August 25, with maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C. A total of 117 out of 587 active weather stations, or about 20%, recorded temperatures of 37°C or higher.
A map by the National Observatory of Athens’ meteo unit showing the highest temperatures reached across the country on Tuesday, August 25 (until 5:10pm).
In the Attica region and the city of Athens, maximum temperatures exceeded 39°C, with the highest readings recorded at Hasani Hill in Elliniko, at 39.7°C, followed by Harokopio in Kallithea at 39.3°C and Patisia at 39.2°C.
The map below shows the geographical distribution of maximum temperatures recorded during Tuesday afternoon, August 25, and highlights the eight highest readings recorded by the network of automatic weather stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens.
Red Code in the Ionian Islands
A Red Code is in effect today for the Ionian Islands Region, as the General Secretariat for Civil Protection’s Fire Risk Forecast Map indicates a very high risk of wildfires, classified as Risk Category 4.
A high risk of wildfires, classified as Risk Category 3, is forecast for Attica, several areas of mainland Greece and the country’s entire island region.
