A new and powerful heat invasion is on its way, set to make its mark in the final stretch of this year’s summer. According to meteorologists, this is the most significant and prolonged heatwave of the season, expected to last at least eight days. Meteorologist and Director of Research at the National Observatory of Athens, Kostas Lagouvardos, describes it as an “exhausting” heat event that will last at least seven to eight days, with temperatures locally exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Lagouvardos: “The first major heatwave of summer — and it’s arriving at the very end”
Speaking to Orange Press Agency, Mr. Lagouvardos explained the nature of the phenomenon: “Starting today, a warm period is beginning — a heatwave, I would call it — that will last at least seven to eight days, and may possibly extend to the end of the month.”
“Temperatures won’t reach extreme values, but in many areas they will exceed 37 to 38 degrees Celsius. We will locally see 40 degrees, perhaps during the weekend and slightly above. What is particularly noteworthy is the duration. We’re talking about at least seven to eight days, as mentioned, and possibly a bit longer, during which we will have very high temperatures — something that will take quite a toll on the population,” he added.
As Mr. Lagouvardos emphasized, “After successive heatwaves that had affected Western and Central Europe, temperatures in Western Europe have now dropped considerably. The warmer air masses are now affecting our country — Eastern Europe broadly, the Balkans, and Greece — for an extended period. This is essentially the first major heatwave of summer, arriving in its final days. Meteorologically speaking, summer ends at the close of August.”
Weather forecast for Thursday (20/08)
According to data from the National Observatory of Athens, on Thursday, August 20, sunny skies will prevail across the entire country, with a few local clouds and a slight further rise in temperature. The mercury will reach 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in Thessaly, 36 to 37 degrees in the remaining mainland regions — and possibly up to 38 degrees locally — while in Macedonia and Thrace temperatures will reach 35 to 37 degrees. In Athens, conditions will be clear with temperatures ranging from 25 to 37 degrees Celsius, while in Thessaloniki the range will be 24 to 34 degrees. Winds in the Aegean will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, and in the Ionian Sea from the northwest at up to 4 Beaufort.
Weather forecast for Friday (21/08)
The temperature rise will continue on Friday, August 21. According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), conditions will remain generally clear, with mainland temperatures reaching 37 to 38 degrees and locally up to 39 degrees Celsius. In the islands of the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese, the thermometer will reach 36 to 37 degrees, while winds in the eastern regions will locally reach 6 Beaufort.
Weekend weather forecast
On Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, the heatwave will consolidate at its peak levels, with temperatures seeing a slight further increase on Saturday and remaining largely unchanged on Sunday. Skies will stay clear, although during the midday and afternoon hours, temporary cloudiness is expected over the mountainous mainland areas, with the possibility of local showers or isolated thunderstorms on Sunday. Winds will blow from the north-northwest at 3 to 5 Beaufort, and locally over open sea up to 6 Beaufort.
