A new wave of Saharan dust is reaching Greece, driven by the prevailing southerly winds over the Mediterranean regions between Italy and Turkey.

According to the latest forecasts from meteo.gr/National Observatory of Athens, dust concentrations will be high, particularly in the Ionian Sea and mainland areas, except Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, until Tuesday 25/03. Subsequently, dust concentrations are expected to increase throughout the rest of the country.

Indicative wind and dust concentration maps near ground level for Monday 24/03, Tuesday 25/03, and Wednesday 26/03 are shown below.

According to EMY director Theodoros Kolydas, southerly winds and dust transport will persist nearly the entire week. Heavier rainfall is expected from Thursday onwards.

NΟΤΙΑΔΕΣ , ΣΚΟΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΠΙΚΕΣ ΛΑΣΠΟΒΡΟΧΕΣ
Οι νοτιάδες και η μεταφορά σκόνης θα διατηρηθούν σχεδόν όλη την εβδομάδα . Οι βροχές όπως αναφέραμε θα είναι πολλές από την Πέμπτη και μετά.
Ακολoυθούν αναλυτικά video.@Starchannelnew1 @duthnac @CivPro_GR @EMY_HNMS pic.twitter.com/wUffz4KUR0

— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) March 23, 2025

Today’s Weather

Cloudy skies are expected, with temporary local rains mainly in the Northern Ionian, Epirus, Macedonia, and Thrace. Dust concentrations will be elevated in the Ionian and mainland regions, except Thrace and Eastern Macedonia. Visibility will be locally limited until morning.

Temperatures will range from 4 to 20°C in Western Macedonia, 7 to 21°C in the rest of Macedonia and Thrace, 8 to 22°C in Thessaly, 7 to 21°C in Epirus, 10 to 24°C in Sterea, 6 to 25°C in the Peloponnese, 14 to 19°C in the Ionian islands, 7 to 22°C in the Northern and Eastern Aegean islands, 10 to 20°C in the Cyclades, 10 to 23°C in the Dodecanese, and 10 to 27°C in Crete.

Winds in the Aegean will blow from southern directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort. In the Ionian Sea, winds will blow from southeast directions at 5 to 7 Beaufort, weakening slightly by afternoon.

In Attica, cloudy conditions are expected, with southerly winds at 2 to 4 Beaufort. Visibility will be locally limited until morning. Dust concentrations will slightly increase from midday. Temperatures in downtown Athens will range from 12 to 21°C.

In Thessaloniki Prefecture, cloudy conditions are expected with a chance of local temporary showers. Winds will blow from east to southeast directions at up to 3 Beaufort. Visibility will be locally limited until morning, and dust concentrations will be elevated. Temperatures in central Thessaloniki will range from 13 to 21°C.

Weather on Tuesday, March 25

Local rains are forecast in the Ionian Sea, Epirus, Western Sterea, Macedonia, and gradually Thrace, with isolated storms in the northwest. Elsewhere, intermittent increased clouds with few local rains at times on the mainland. African dust transport will occur mainly in the west and south.

Winds will blow from southern directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally 7 Beaufort in the west.

Temperatures will drop slightly in the northwest, reaching 18-19°C in northern mainland and the Ionian, 21-22°C in central and southern mainland and eastern islands, and locally 23-24°C in northern Crete and the Dodecanese.

Weather on Wednesday (26/03)

Intermittent increased clouds with local rains in the Ionian Sea, western and northern mainland, and gradually the remaining mainland and northern Aegean. Isolated thunderstorms might occur in the northern Ionian during morning hours. African dust transport will continue.

Winds will blow from southeast directions at 3-5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort at sea, temporarily reaching 7 Beaufort in the Ionian.

No significant temperature change expected.

Weather on Thursday (27/03)

Intermittent clouds increasing occasionally in the Ionian Sea, mainland, Sporades, and Evia, with local rains and isolated storms mainly in coastal areas. African dust transport will affect mainly eastern regions.

Winds will blow east-southeast at 3-5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort at sea, gradually shifting west-southwest with the same intensity initially in the west, then in the south.

Temperatures will drop primarily in the west.

Weather on Friday (28/03)

In the Ionian Sea, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, northeast Aegean islands, Cyclades, and Crete, increased clouds with local rains and isolated storms are forecast.

Elsewhere, scattered clouds gradually increasing with local rains and isolated storms in mountainous areas during midday and afternoon. African dust transport is expected mainly in the east.

Winds will blow cyclonic at 3-5 Beaufort in the north and west-southwest at 4-6 Beaufort in the south.

Temperatures will drop in eastern areas.