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Kolydas explains the rare “polar meltemi” — Greece’s invisible summer wind regulator

Greek meteorologist Kolydas explains the rare polar meltemi — a powerful Aegean wind event that ranked among the strongest in nearly 50 years.

Kolydas explains the rare “polar meltemi” — Greece’s invisible summer wind regulator
Greece
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Meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas shed light on the rare phenomenon of the polar meltemi in a recent post, explaining the unusual meteorological event and how it affects atmospheric circulation — calling it the “invisible regulator of the Greek summer.” According to the meteorologist, during the final days of July, wind gusts exceeded 72 km/h, “ranking the episode among the most powerful in nearly five decades.” He also explained that while the rare polar meltemi helps suppress extreme temperatures, it significantly increases dangers for navigation and the risk of rapid wildfire spread.

Theodoros Kolydas’ post on the polar meltemi

In his own words: “We all know the meltemi as the persistent northern winds of the Aegean. However, there are certain episodes that go beyond their usual form and take on characteristics that Greek meteorological literature — as far back as the work of Konstantakopoulos (1959) — describes as the polar meltemi. These are cases where atmospheric circulation organizes itself in such a way that the northern winds become stronger, deeper in the troposphere, and above all, far more persistent.”

“Analysis of ERA5 data shows that the episode from the final days of July 2026 belongs to this category. Wind gusts exceeded 72 km/h, placing this event among the strongest recorded in nearly five decades. Even more significant than the peak intensity, however, was its duration — strong northerly winds persisted for several consecutive days, substantially affecting the temperature regime across eastern Greece.”

“The polar meltemi is not merely an interesting meteorological phenomenon. It acts as a natural cooling mechanism, keeping extreme temperatures in check across many parts of the country, while at the same time significantly increasing difficulties for seafarers and raising the risk of rapid wildfire spread. Understanding and early recognition of this phenomenon is a valuable tool for weather forecasting, civil protection, and maritime activities.”

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