After the brief spell of bad weather that hit many parts of the country on Saturday, June 21, temperatures will begin to rise significantly, peaking on Thursday and Friday, when the temperature will reach or even exceed 40°C.

According to a post by meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafilias on social media, from Wednesday, June 25, warm air masses from Africa are expected to affect the country, creating the first heatwave conditions of this summer.

The meteorologist also highlighted that seven areas will be more affected than others by the heat, with dangerously high temperatures.

These areas are:

• Thessaly
• Kilkis
• Serres
• Peloponnese
• Boeotia
• Aetolia-Acarnania
• Attica

Tsatrafilias’s post

“African heatwave from Wednesday in the country…”
Good morning!

• After the cool break with rain and lively meltemia, from Wednesday 25/6 warm air masses from the African coasts, crossing the Mediterranean from the west, will affect our country, creating the first heatwave conditions of this summer through Friday 27/6.
• From Saturday, temperatures will begin to drop (for a while), making the heat more bearable.
• The temperatures in the table below are indicative and will be updated as needed.
• Other parts of central and northern Greece will also be affected by high temperatures.”

Clearchos Marousakis, in his forecast, also mentions high temperatures near 39-41°C.

“The short duration of this heatwave (48 to 72 hours), combined with the satisfactory nighttime and early morning cooling and the prevailing meltemi winds, does not constitute a heatwave but a strong and express heat burst,” he emphasizes in his post.

Finally, as he notes, the disturbance coming from central Europe will push away the very warm air masses, but it may lead to intense storms over the weekend.

Marousakis’s detailed post

THE METEOROLOGICAL CHESSBOARD OF THE NEW WEEK – MUCH HEAT OR HEATWAVE
After the intense – dangerous weather phenomena caused by the recent atmospheric disturbance, the atmospheric circulation is beginning to stabilize. Thus, the new week starts with mild heat and meltemia prevailing over the Aegean, though this also increases the fire risk.

MERCURY ON THE RISE
Up to Tuesday, the heat will be tolerable across the country, but from Wednesday the mercury will start rising, with the peak expected on Thursday and Friday.

WEATHER CHESSBOARD ANALYSIS
In our first map, with the blue curve, we can see the shifts and reconfigurations of the atmospheric high-pressure ridge (anticyclone), which from midweek through Friday will orient its axis more toward our region, resulting in the transport of warmer air masses.
On the same map, you can also see, marked with an “X”, the other atmospheric disturbances and their expected movements.
Toward the end of the video, we see that the atmospheric ridge will try to extend northward again, pushing a disturbance toward our country and effectively ending this heatwave over the coming weekend.

TWO-DAY INTENSE HEAT BURST
The peak of the heat is expected on Thursday and Friday, when in enclosed inland regions temperatures may locally reach 39-41°C, as shown in our second forecast map.

MUCH HEAT BUT NOT A HEATWAVE
Although, as noted, the mercury may “hit red” in the late afternoon, at night the temperature will drop sufficiently, while the meltemi will persist over the central and southern Aegean.
The short duration of this heat burst (48 to 72 hours), combined with the nighttime cooling and the meltemi, means this is not a heatwave but a strong and express heat burst.

POSSIBLY INTENSE STORMS AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND
The disturbance coming from central Europe will push away the very warm air masses, though it may result in intense storms this weekend. The coming days will provide more reliable estimates. Indicative forecast maps follow.

Today’s weather
Sunshine is expected with few clouds, thicker during the warm hours over mainland areas, with local showers or isolated storms over the mountains of Epirus and western Central Greece. Visibility will be locally limited in western parts during the night and early morning.

Temperatures will range from 18 to 34°C in northern Greece (13 to 29°C in western Macedonia), 19 to 34°C in central and southern Greece, 19 to 32°C in western Greece, 20 to 30°C in the Cyclades and Crete, and 19 to 32°C in the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese.

Winds will blow in the Aegean from the north, moderate at 4-5 Beaufort, and strong at 6 Beaufort in the southern Aegean, while in the Ionian they will be weak to locally nearly moderate at 4 Beaufort from the northwest.

Monday weather in Attica
Sunshine expected. Temperatures between 21 and 34°C, 2-3°C lower in northern and eastern areas. Winds weak from the north, nearly moderate at 4 Beaufort in the east.

Monday weather in Thessaloniki
Sunshine expected. Temperatures between 22 and 34°C. Winds weak and variable in Thermaikos Gulf.

Tuesday, June 24 weather
Generally fair weather nationwide. Winds from the north at 3-5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort in the Aegean. Temperatures will rise, reaching 34-35°C in western and northern mainland areas, the eastern Aegean, and southern Crete; 36-37°C in eastern mainland; 30-33°C in other island regions.

Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26 weather
Generally fair weather. Temporary local clouds over mainland mountains at midday and in the afternoon. Winds from the north at 3-5 Beaufort, locally 6 in the Aegean. Temperatures will rise further to unusually high levels for the season.

Friday, June 27 weather
Generally fair, with local cloud development at midday and in the afternoon over the mainland, bringing showers or storms to central and northern mountains. Winds from the north at 3-5 Beaufort, locally 6 in seas. Temperatures will remain high for the season.