Greece is heading into a prolonged heatwave, with several more days of intense heat expected and temperatures reaching 38 to 40 degrees Celsius (100-104 Fahrenheit) across many areas and climbing as high as 41 to 42C (106-108F) locally.
The National Observatory of Athens’ meteo.gr service expects heatwave conditions to affect much of the country through the middle of the week. Temperatures will remain high through Wednesday before a more noticeable cooling trend begins on Thursday.
Today, Sunday, much of mainland Greece will see highs of 38 to 39C (100-102F), while some areas may approach 40C. Temperatures on the islands will generally range from 35 to 37C (95-99F), while high humidity will make conditions feel even more oppressive in many regions.
Heatwave to continue through midweek
Forecast data from the National Observatory of Athens show that the heat will remain widespread over the coming days, with the highest temperatures likely in localized areas.
Mostly clear skies will dominate much of Greece. Afternoon showers may develop over mountainous regions, while isolated thunderstorms could affect parts of northern Greece.
Forecasters expect little change in temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday. More substantial relief should arrive from Thursday as conditions begin to cool across a wider area.
Western Greece and Peloponnese to stay hotter
A strengthening northerly airflow will begin to affect the country from Monday, with winds reaching 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale in parts of the Aegean.
The northerly winds should bring some relief to northern and eastern Greece. Western regions and the Peloponnese, however, are likely to remain significantly hotter on Monday and Tuesday.
As northerly winds descend from higher terrain toward western areas, the air can become warmer and drier. That process may keep local temperatures close to 40C even as other parts of the country begin to cool.
Stronger winds later in the week should help drive a broader drop in temperatures across Greece.
Greece’s prolonged heatwave extends late August heat
The latest heatwave arrives near the end of August, extending a summer marked by repeated periods of very high temperatures.
The intensity will vary considerably by region. Much of Greece will see highs in the upper 30s Celsius, while isolated locations could briefly reach 41 to 42C.
From Monday, cooler northerly winds will lower temperatures in eastern and northern areas, while western Greece will remain under more persistent heat.
A wider easing of the heat should begin on Thursday, bringing the most intense phase of the latest heatwave to an end.
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