High temperatures with light winds continue today, Thursday, across the country.

Thermometers will locally reach up to 39°C, though most areas will be cooler. Athens will climb to 37°C, and Thessaloniki a bit lower, where local rain showers are also expected.

Yesterday, Wednesday, temperatures above 40°C were recorded in Skala Messinias (40.5 °C), and above 39°C in Asteri Lakonias (39.3 °C) and Oleni Ileias (39.1 °C).

Meteorologists’ forecasts agree that from next week we will face a strong heatwave with temperatures reaching the 40s, though precise predictions are still not possible.

On the bright side, the fire risk situation is better today with no areas of very high risk or emergency status. The same applies to fire-meteorological conditions.

See the maps:

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Generally clear weather. From midday, local clouds will develop over the mainland, with isolated showers and thunderstorms mainly over the mountains of Macedonia in the afternoon.

Winds will be variable 3 to 4 Beaufort in the west, turning westerly-northwesterly 4 to 5 Beaufort by midday and afternoon. In the east, winds from the north at 3 to 4 Beaufort, shifting to westerly-southwesterly locally up to 5 Beaufort from midday.

Temperatures will remain mostly stable. They will reach 36 to 38°C inland, locally up to 39°C in the east, and 32 to 34°C on the islands, locally reaching 35°C.

MACEDONIA, THRACE
Weather: Generally clear. From midday, clouds will form and local showers and isolated thunderstorms will occur mainly in the mountainous areas of Macedonia in the afternoon.
Winds: Variable 3 Beaufort, increasing to southerly 4 Beaufort on the coasts midday-afternoon. At night, northerly winds at 4 to 5 Beaufort prevail.
Temperature: 19 to 37°C, locally 38°C. In western Macedonia, max temperatures will be 2 to 4 degrees lower.

IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIRUS, WESTERN MAINLAND, WESTERN PELOPONNESE
Weather: Generally clear. Local clouds will develop midday-afternoon inland, with possible local showers in the mountainous areas of Epirus.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort, turning westerly-northwesterly 4 to 5 Beaufort midday-afternoon.
Temperature: 20 to 37°C, locally 38°C; Ionian Islands up to 34°C. Inland Epirus 2 to 3 degrees cooler.

THESSALY, EASTERN MAINLAND, EVIA, EASTERN PELOPONNESE
Weather: Generally clear. Local clouds develop midday-afternoon in Thessaly and the mountains of other areas.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort, on the coasts southerly at the same intensity.
Temperature: 20 to 38°C, locally 39°C; Sporades Islands up to 31°C.

CYCLADES, CRETE
Weather: Clear.
Winds: Westerly-northwesterly 3 to 4 Beaufort, turning westerly-southwesterly with same intensity from afternoon.
Temperature: 23 to 32°C; Crete 33 to 34°C.

EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS – DODECANESE
Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: Initially northerly 3 to 4 Beaufort, turning westerly at the same strength from midday.
Temperature: 24 to 34-35°C.

ATTICA
Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort, turning southerly with same intensity midday-afternoon.
Temperature: 23 to 36-37°C.

THESSALONIKI
Weather: Generally clear. Clouds develop midday, with local showers and isolated thunderstorms expected late afternoon.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort, on the coasts southerly with same strength midday-afternoon. At night, northerly winds at 4 to 5 Beaufort.
Temperature: 23 to 35°C.