Wind gusts exceeding 100 kilometers per hour are expected on Thursday (08/13) and Friday (08/14), placing authorities on high alert as wildfires could break out across many parts of the country. However, according to meteorologists, the northerly winds are expected to weaken by the coming Sunday.
Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Crete, and Andros will bear the brunt of the storm-force winds over the next 48 hours. Combined with high temperatures and the intense drought of recent days, extremely dangerous conditions are being created for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.
According to meteo, today and tomorrow the Etesian winds (meltemi) will intensify slightly over the Aegean and eastern mainland, reaching up to 7 Beaufort (average wind speed) in some areas, and from Friday between 7 and 8 Beaufort on average.
Greece wildfires: Powerful winds to batter multiple regions over the next 48 hours
Wind gusts are expected to temporarily exceed 100 km/h in the Aegean, Crete, and Eastern Central Greece, including Attica. The highest wind gusts are forecast for Thursday and Friday midday across Eastern Central Greece, the Peloponnese, and the northwestern Cyclades.
On Thursday (08/13), gusts are expected to surpass 100 km/h in the southwestern parts of Boeotia, the northern parts of Attica, at Dirfys mountain (highland Evia), and in the southern parts of Evia.
On Friday (08/14), gusts exceeding 100 km/h are forecast for southern Evia and southwestern Andros. It should be noted that the Risk Assessment Committee convened again this morning to reassess the situation.
Risk Assessment Committee meeting
The following was established:
On Saturday, August 15, strong winds will persist, with intensities of 5 to 7 Beaufort in Thrace and the eastern and southern Peloponnese, and 6 to 8 Beaufort across the islands of the Northern and Eastern Aegean. In Attica-Boeotia and Evia, winds will reach 6 to 7 Beaufort, with temporary local peaks of 8 Beaufort. In the Central Aegean, winds will blow at 7 to 8 Beaufort, with temporary local peaks of 9 Beaufort, while in the Cyclades they will reach 6 to 8 Beaufort, with local peaks of 9 Beaufort mainly in the northern areas. In Crete, winds will reach 5 to 7 Beaufort, and in the Kasos-Karpathos area, 6 to 8 Beaufort.
On Sunday, August 16, a further weakening of the winds is forecast; however, in the eastern and southern parts of the country, wind intensities will continue to reach 6 to 7 Beaufort during the early hours of the day.
High-risk areas
According to today’s Wildfire Risk Forecast Map, the following areas are classified under extreme danger category 5:
– Attica
– Argolida
– Lesvos
– Parts of Boeotia
– Parts of Evia
– Parts of Corinthia
Category 4 high fire risk across mainland and island Greece
At the same time, numerous other regions across mainland and island Greece are classified under category 4. A very high wildfire risk, category 4, is forecast for Kythira, Corinthia, Arcadia, Laconia, Western Greece, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, and Zakynthos, as well as for Arta and Preveza.
In the same category are Boeotia, Phocis, Phthiotis, Evia along with Skyros, the Sporades, the Northern Aegean, Halkidiki and Mount Athos, as well as Kavala, Thassos, Xanthi, Rhodope, Evros along with Samothrace, and the Cyclades.
City of Athens on full alert
In the meantime, due to the extreme wildfire risk, Lycabettus Hill, Pedion tou Areos park, and Finopoulos Hill have been closed to the public. The Municipality of Athens has announced that all its services will be placed on heightened alert due to the very high wildfire risk and strong winds.
In accordance with the Athens Civil Protection Plan, standby teams are being formed from employees of the Sanitation and Green Spaces departments.
The Municipal Police is conducting patrols, while drones equipped with thermal cameras are being deployed to detect temperature changes and monitor large green areas in the city center — including Lycabettus, Strefi Hill, Philopappos Hill, Tourkovounia, and Ilisia, among others.
The Municipal Police Operations Center will operate on a 24-hour basis to provide information and assistance to the Fire Service, as well as to other agencies and municipalities if needed. Municipal water tankers will also remain on continuous standby.
The Contractor Registry is being activated to bolster fire protection at the Athens Municipal Camps in Agios Andreas, Attica, with two water cannon vehicles and two 4×4 vehicles. In the event that citizens detect any signs of danger, they are urged to contact the 24-hour citizen service hotline at 1595 (charges vary by provider).
