Authorities have raised the highest alert for the risk of forest fires over the next five days, as weather conditions change with a cocktail of high temperatures, preceding dryness, and strong northerly winds up to 7 Beaufort, creating dangerous conditions for fire outbreaks.

It’s no coincidence that Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias, in a statement yesterday, called for everyone to exercise great caution through the weekend.

“From tomorrow until the weekend, the fire risk map will be one step below the level of red alert, as according to scientists, vegetation has dried out due to the previous heatwave, temperatures will rise again significantly, and especially strong north winds are expected,” explained Mr. Kikilias. He added:

“I urge everyone to exercise extreme caution to prevent forests, properties, and lives from being endangered by careless and criminal actions.”

Today, Tuesday, the weather will be generally sunny. During midday and afternoon hours, clouds will develop over mainland areas, and local showers are expected mainly in the mountainous regions of central and northern Greece. Winds will blow from northern directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally reaching 7 Beaufort in the Aegean Sea.

Temperatures will experience a slight further increase. In mainland Greece, temperatures will reach 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, locally up to 38 degrees. In the Ionian islands, eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese, and Crete, temperatures will range from 34 to 35 degrees Celsius, and in the rest of the islands, temperatures will be between 31 to 33 degrees Celsius.