High temperatures are expected again today across the country for the 11th consecutive day. According to the emergency bulletin from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), the hot air masses covering much of Eastern Europe and the Balkans will continue to affect us, and the heatwave will persist until Sunday.

The highest temperatures will be recorded in the interior of mainland Greece, mainly in the west, central, and northern regions. According to HNMS Director Theodoros Kolydas, the heatwave will persist into next week and is expected to ease between July 26 and 27.

Today (18-7-2024), the maximum temperature is forecasted to reach: a. 41-42°C in the interior of the mainland, and locally 43°C in the west, central, and northern regions. b. 38-40°C on the Ionian Islands, the islands of the Eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese, and southern Crete. c. 35-37°C in the rest of the island regions. d. 39-40°C in Attica and Thessaloniki.

Tomorrow, Friday (19-7-2024), the maximum temperature is forecasted to reach: a. 38-39°C in the northern mainland and 40-41°C in the rest of the mainland. b. 37-40°C on the Ionian Islands, the islands of the Eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese, and southern Crete. c. 35-37°C in the rest of the island regions. d. 38-39°C in Attica and Thessaloniki.

After Friday afternoon, isolated thunderstorms are expected in the northern part of the country.

On Saturday (20-7-2024), sporadic thunderstorms will occur in the northern part of the country from midday, and the temperature is forecasted to reach: a. 37-39°C in the northern mainland and 40°C in the rest of the mainland, locally 41°C in the western mainland. b. 38-40°C on the Ionian Islands, the islands of the Eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese, and southern Crete. c. 34-36°C in the rest of the island regions. d. 39-40°C in Attica and 38-39°C in Thessaloniki.

On Sunday (21-7-2024), the maximum temperature in the mainland will be 37-39°C and locally 40°C.

Kolydas: When the high temperatures will subside

HNMS Director Theodoros Kolydas explains the discrepancies between the models regarding the temperatures in the coming days.

“We reiterate once again that it is too early to draw clear conclusions about when the high temperatures will end. The ensemble forecasts of both our models indicate a drop in temperatures for Athens somewhere between July 26 and 27. The same applies to most areas of the country.

The numerical values converge until the 21st of the month, and then they diverge (this is evident from the spread of values in the meteograms). There are discrepancies between the models, which we can easily distinguish by observing the shape of the temperature curves at 850 hPa. You can see the differences in the two videos that depict the deviations from normal values at 850 hPa for both the ECMWF and GFS models. There you will also see the desired blue approaching our area between July 26 and 27.”

ΠΟΥ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΟΥΝ KAI ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΦΕΡΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΣΥΓΚΡΙΣΕΙΣ EΠΙ ΤΩΝ ΘΕΡΜΟΚΡΑΣΙΩΝ, ΣΤΑ ΔΥΟ ΚΥΡΙΟΤΕΡΑ ΑΡΙΘΜΗΤΙΚΑ ΜΟΝΤΕΛΑ (#ECMWF & #GFS)
✅Επαναλαμβάνουμε για άλλη μια φορά, ότι είναι πολύ νωρίς για σαφή συμπεράσματα για το πότε θα υπάρξει πέρας των υψηλών θερμοκρασιών. Οι ensemble… pic.twitter.com/M890StSAK4

— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) July 17, 2024

Tenth consecutive day of very high temperatures – Maximum temperature at 42.2 °C

Very high temperatures in our country continue for the tenth consecutive day. The maximum temperature on Wednesday 17/07 was recorded in Oleni, Ilia (42.2 °C) followed by Skala, Messinia (42.0 °C) and Gavalou, Aitoloakarnania (41.7 °C). The map in the image below shows the distribution of the maximum temperature in the country according to the network of automatic meteorological stations of the National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr.

As can be seen from the relevant information also presented in this image, the temperature exceeded 37 °C at 232 of the 510 currently active stations (~45%). It is also noteworthy that the average maximum temperature was equal to 35.7 °C, which is the highest value within the ten-day period.

The weather today

Local clouds are expected on the mainland, while sporadic showers will occur at noon and in the afternoon in the mountains of Pindos and Central and Western Macedonia. In the island regions, sunshine is expected with a few local clouds at noon and in the afternoon in the Ionian and North Aegean.

The temperature in Western Macedonia will range from 21 to 36 degrees Celsius, in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace from 24 to 41, in Epirus from 23 to 40, in Thessaly from 26 to 42, in Western Sterea and Peloponnese from 24 to 41, in the rest of Central Greece from 24 to 39, in the Ionian islands from 23 to 39, in the North and East Aegean islands from 25 to 39, in the Cyclades from 25 to 35, in the Dodecanese from 24 to 36 and in Crete from 25 to 38 degrees Celsius.
From 25 to 25 degrees Celsius and from 25 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Winds in the Central and North Aegean Sea will blow from northern directions from 3 to 5 Beaufort and in some places up to 6 Beaufort. In the South Aegean the winds will blow from west to northwest directions 3 to 5 Beaufort. In the Ionian Sea the winds will blow from northwestern directions 2 to 4 Beaufort.

FORECAST FOR TOMORROW FRIDAY 19-07-2024

Generally clear weather. In the midday and afternoon hours, clouds will develop in the western and northern continents and local rain will occur mainly in the north, with isolated thunderstorms in the mountains.
Winds will blow from the north 4 to 6 and in the Aegean Sea locally 7 Beaufort.
The temperature, although it will drop slightly in the north, will remain high and will reach:
a. 38 to 39 degrees Celsius in the northern mainland and 40 to 41 degrees Celsius in the rest of the mainland.
b. In the Ionian Islands, the East Aegean Islands, the Dodecanese and southern Crete 37 to 40 degrees Celsius.
c. In the rest of the island country 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.
d. 38 to 39 degrees Celsius in Attica and the prefecture of Thessaloniki.

FORECAST FOR SATURDAY 20-07-2024
Generally clear weather. From the midday hours, clouds will develop in the mainland and local rain in the mountains and in Macedonia sporadic thunderstorms. In the evening hours the phenomena will be limited in western and central Macedonia and will gradually stop.
Winds will blow from the north 3 to 5 and locally in the Aegean Sea 6 Beaufort.
The temperature will not change significantly and will reach:
a. 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in the northern continent and 40 degrees Celsius in the rest of the continent and 41 degrees Celsius in the western continent.
b. 38 to 40 degrees Celsius on the Ionian Islands, the East Aegean Islands, the Dodecanese and southern Crete.
c. In the rest of the island country 34 to 36 degrees Celsius.
d. 39 and possibly 40 degrees Celsius in Attica and 38 to 39 degrees Celsius in the prefecture of Thessaloniki.

FORECAST FOR SUNDAY 21-07-2024
Generally clear weather. In the midday and afternoon hours there will be some clouds on the mainland and in the north there will be local rain and in the mountains of eastern Macedonia and Thrace possibly isolated thunderstorms.
Winds will blow from the north from 3 to 5 Beaufort and in the southeastern Aegean Sea locally 6 Beaufort with gradual weakening.
The temperature will remain high and in the mainland will have a maximum value of 37 to 39 and locally 40 degrees Celsius.

FORECAST FOR TH MONDAY 22-07-2024
Generally clear weather. In the midday and afternoon hours there will be some clouds on the mainland and local rain and isolated thunderstorms in the north.
The winds will blow from the north from 3 to 5 and in the southern seas up to 6 Beaufort.
The temperature will not change significantly.