Today, Wednesday, July 22, the heatwave reaches its peak, with temperatures touching 42 degrees Celsius in some areas. However, relief is on the way — cooling begins Thursday, July 23, while Friday, July 24 brings a dramatic shift: a temperature drop of up to 10 degrees, along with rain and locally severe thunderstorms.
According to meteorologist Giannis Kallianos, who spoke exclusively to parapolitika.gr, the highest temperatures today, Wednesday, July 22, will be recorded across central and southern Greece.
Weather: Up to 42 degrees Celsius across multiple regions
Kallianos provided a detailed breakdown of the maximum temperatures expected today, Wednesday, July 22:
-Trikala: 41–42°C
-Larissa: 41–42°C
-Karditsa: 41–42°C
-Lamia: 41–42°C
-Thebes: 41–42°C
-Chalkida: up to 41°C
-Athens: 40–41°C
-Argos: 40–41°C, locally up to 42°C
-Nafplio: 40–41°C, locally up to 42°C
-Sparta: 41°C
As he explained, these represent the peak temperature values for the day, with the heatwave persisting mainly across the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Crete scorched — up to 40°C in Rhodes
The intense heat will also affect the southern island regions. In Crete, particularly in the southern parts of the island, temperatures will reach 38–39°C, with isolated spots potentially hitting 40°C. Similarly, in Rhodes, the mercury will climb to 39–40°C, primarily in the central-eastern parts of the island, including the areas of Archangelos and Lindos.
Cooling begins Thursday — temperature drop of up to 10 degrees
Temperatures will already start easing in western and northern Greece, but according to Kallianos, the most significant change will be felt from Thursday onward — and especially from Friday. “What makes this particularly notable is the dramatic temperature drop of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius across most of the country,” he said, noting that the heatwave will give way to an entirely different weather pattern.
Rain and severe thunderstorms on the way
The temperature drop will be accompanied by rain and thunderstorms across many parts of the country. According to the meteorologist, Friday will bring significant rainfall and storms, initially hitting the Ionian Islands and western mainland before spreading to a large portion of the country.
Caution is advised, as the storms may be particularly intense, especially in:
-Central and Western Macedonia
-Thrace
-Thessaly
-Central Greece (Sterea Ellada)
The most severe conditions are expected during the midday and afternoon hours on Friday.
Rain expected in Attica too
According to Kallianos, Attica will also see rainfall on Friday. He clarified that while conditions there are unlikely to be as intense as in the central and northern regions, the rain is expected to affect the greater Athens area through the evening hours.
What to expect over the weekend
By the weekend, temperatures will return to more seasonal norms. On Saturday, July 25, highs will range between 33 and 34°C, with isolated spots reaching 35°C, while a few scattered showers remain possible across Attica and parts of eastern and southern Greece — gradually weakening as the day progresses. On Sunday, July 26, conditions will improve further, with most areas recording temperatures of around 30–32°C and isolated highs of 33–34°C.
Winds picking up across the Aegean
From Friday onward, winds across the Aegean will strengthen considerably. According to Kallianos, gusts will reach 6 to 7 Beaufort in places, marking the definitive end of the heatwave and the arrival of noticeably cooler conditions across virtually the entire country.
