Greece Weather Alert: Winds up to 9 Beaufort & 39°C Temperatures — Red Code Fire Danger

Authorities are on heightened alert as strong winds expected over the coming days, combined with extreme temperatures, are creating conditions of elevated risk for the outbreak and rapid spread of wildfires.

Read: Gale-force winds and high temperatures in the days ahead: The Risk Assessment Committee convenes — which regions are on alert

Weather alert: A high-risk cocktail of winds up to 9 Beaufort and temperatures reaching 39°C

According to scientists from the Risk Assessment Committee, which convened today:

1. For tomorrow, Sunday, August 9, north to northeasterly winds of 6 to 7 Beaufort are expected in Thrace, Attica-Boeotia, Euboea, the eastern and southern Peloponnese, the Northern and Eastern Aegean islands, the Cyclades, Crete, and the Kasos–Karpathos area, with gusts locally reaching 8 Beaufort.
2. On Monday, August 10, winds are forecast to intensify further. In Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, Attica-Boeotia, Euboea, across the Peloponnese (especially the Laconia region), the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southwestern Aegean, Kythira, and Western and Southern Crete, north to northeasterly winds will reach 7 and locally 8 Beaufort, with gusts potentially hitting 9 Beaufort in isolated areas.
3. Temperatures will remain at elevated levels in western Greece, where they are expected to reach 38 to 39 degrees Celsius.
4. From Tuesday, August 11, through the end of the week, north to northeasterly winds of 5 to 7 Beaufort are forecast to persist across many parts of the country.

Very high fire danger (risk category 4) for Sunday

According to the Fire Danger Forecast Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr), a very high fire danger (risk category 4) is forecast for Sunday, August 9, 2026, in the following regions:

• Region of Attica (including the island of Kythira)
• Region of the Peloponnese (Regional Units of Corinthia, Argolis, Arcadia, Laconia)
• Region of Central Greece (Regional Units of Boeotia, Phthiotis, Euboea)
• Region of the Northern Aegean (Regional Units of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria)
• Region of the Southern Aegean (Regional Units of the Cyclades)
• Region of Crete

Regions placed on Red Code

In parallel, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection has placed the following regions on mobilization status (Red Code) for tomorrow, Sunday, August 9:

• The Region of Attica (including the island of Kythira)
• The Regional Units of Corinthia, Argolis, Arcadia, and Laconia in the Region of the Peloponnese
• The Region of Crete
• The Regional Units of Boeotia, Phthiotis, and Euboea in the Region of Central Greece
• The Regional Units of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria in the Region of the Northern Aegean
• The Regional Units of the Cyclades in the Region of the Southern Aegean

According to the Daily Fire Danger Forecast Map Issuing Team of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, fire danger in the affected regions is forecast to be Very High (risk category 4).

Under Red Code mobilization status, the National Mechanism is placed on full alert, activating and deploying the necessary personnel along with the materials and resources required to ensure readiness in the face of imminent danger, respond to emergency needs, and manage the consequences of any catastrophic event. Short-term recovery, relief, and support operations are also set in motion to mitigate the impact of any disaster.