Today marks the second day of the heatwave, with weather conditions remaining clear and temperatures staying at dangerously high levels. The mercury is expected to climb as high as 41°C, and with the arrival of Saharan dust, conditions will become particularly oppressive. Scattered rainfall and isolated thunderstorms are expected in some areas.
Weather: Mercury reaches 41°C — where to expect rainfall
In more detail, weather conditions will be generally clear across most of Greece today (21/7), according to the forecast issued by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service. Temporary cloud build-up is expected over mainland areas during the midday and afternoon hours. In the north, mainly over mountainous regions, localized showers or rain bursts are expected, while thunderstorms are forecast for central and eastern Macedonia as well as Thrace.
Conditions are favorable for the partial transport of Saharan dust into the atmosphere, mainly over western regions. Winds in the west will initially be variable and light, shifting to westerly-northwesterly at 3 to 4 Beaufort — locally reaching 5 — from midday onward. In the east, winds will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 in the Aegean. Temperatures will remain at elevated levels: up to 33–34°C in the Cyclades, 35–37°C (locally 38°C) across the remaining island regions, and 38–39°C on the mainland, with local peaks of 40–41°C.
MACEDONIA, THRACE
-Weather: In central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace, temporary cloud cover with localized showers and thunderstorms during the night through the early morning hours; conditions will then improve, though cloud cover is expected to increase again during the midday and afternoon hours, bringing localized rain bursts and thunderstorms. In western Macedonia, generally clear skies with brief cloud spells in the midday-afternoon period, during which localized showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms may develop.
-Winds: Variable, 3 to 4 Beaufort.
-Temperature: From 21°C up to 37–38°C, locally reaching 39°C in central Macedonia. In western Macedonia, minimum temperatures will be 2–3°C lower.
IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIRUS, WESTERN CENTRAL GREECE, WESTERN PELOPONNESE
-Weather: Generally clear with temporary cloud spells over mainland areas during the midday-afternoon hours.
-Winds: Variable and light, turning westerly-northwesterly at 3 to 4 Beaufort from midday, locally reaching 5 Beaufort in the Ionian Sea.
-Temperature: From 23°C up to 37°C, with mainland areas reaching 38–39°C and locally 40°C. In Epirus, minimum temperatures will be 2–3°C lower.
THESSALY, EASTERN CENTRAL GREECE, EUBOEA, EASTERN PELOPONNESE
-Weather: Generally clear with a few temporary clouds over mainland areas during the midday-afternoon hours; localized showers or rain bursts may develop over the mountainous areas of Thessaly.
-Winds: Variable, 3 to 4 Beaufort.
-Temperature: From 22°C up to 38–39°C, locally reaching 40–41°C.
CYCLADES, CRETE
-Weather: Clear.
-Winds: From northerly directions, 4 to 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 in the east.
-Temperature: From 23°C up to 34°C, locally reaching 35–36°C in Crete.
EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS — DODECANESE
-Weather: Clear.
-Winds: From northerly directions, 4 to 6 Beaufort.
-Temperature: From 22°C up to 36–37°C, locally reaching 38°C in the southern islands.
ATTICA
-Weather: Generally clear with a few temporary clouds during the midday-afternoon hours.
-Winds: Variable, 3 to 4 Beaufort.
-Temperature: From 25°C up to 37–38°C. Coastal areas will see maximum temperatures 2–3°C lower.
THESSALONIKI
-Weather: Temporary cloud cover with a chance of thunderstorms during the night through the early morning hours, followed by generally clear conditions; however, cloud cover is expected to increase again during the midday-afternoon period, bringing localized rain bursts over the surrounding mountain areas.
-Winds: Variable, 2 to 3 Beaufort, turning southerly-southeasterly up to 4 Beaufort in the midday-afternoon hours.
-Temperature: From 24°C up to 37°C.
Forecast for Wednesday (22/7)
In the northern mainland, limited cloud cover will increase rapidly, bringing localized showers and — mainly in central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace — sporadic thunderstorms. Weather phenomena will gradually weaken from late afternoon onward.
Across the rest of the country, conditions will be generally clear with temporary cloud build-up during the midday-afternoon hours over Thessaly, the Sporades, eastern Central Greece, and Euboea, where localized showers or rain bursts are possible. Conditions will remain temporarily favorable for the partial transport of Saharan dust.
Winds will blow northwesterly at 4 to 6 Beaufort over the Ionian Sea and southeastern regions, and from southerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort in the Aegean, shifting to northerly-northeasterly and reaching locally up to 6 Beaufort in the afternoon. Temperatures will drop in the north, but will remain high across the southern mainland and southern island regions.
Forecast for Thursday (23/7)
In the eastern mainland, the Sporades, and Euboea, limited cloud cover — temporarily increasing — will bring localized showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to gradually ease from the evening onward. Across the rest of the country, generally clear skies with temporary cloud spells during the midday-afternoon hours over mainland areas, where localized showers or rain bursts are possible over mountainous terrain.
Winds will blow from northerly directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort. Temperatures will drop nationwide, returning to seasonally normal levels.
Forecast for Friday (24/7)
A change in weather is expected to develop initially in the west, gradually spreading to central and northern areas, with temporarily increased cloud cover, rainfall, and sporadic thunderstorms. Phenomena in the eastern mainland regions may be locally intense. A gradual easing is expected during the evening from the west.
Across the remaining areas, limited cloud cover — temporarily increasing during the midday-afternoon hours — will bring localized showers or rain bursts. Winds will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 in open seas and temporarily up to 7 Beaufort in the northern Ionian. Temperatures will see a slight further drop in the north, while the rest of the country will experience no significant change.
