Extreme caution will be required over the next 48 hours, according to protothema.gr meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafyllias, as very strong meltemi winds, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h, combined with high temperatures, are keeping the risk of wildfires breaking out and spreading rapidly at very high levels.

More specifically, a very high fire danger, Category 4, is forecast for today, Friday (31/7), in Attica and Kythera, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Evia and Skyros, the northern and southern Aegean, Crete, western Greece, as well as Evros and Samothrace.

Winds will blow from northern and northwestern directions, light to moderate in the Ionian Sea and strong to gale force in the Aegean, locally reaching 7 to 8 Beaufort. Temperatures will reach 38 to 39 degrees Celsius in the western mainland, 37 degrees in the Dodecanese, and 35 degrees on the Ionian islands and in Crete.

In Attica, sunny weather is forecast, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius and northern winds reaching up to 8 Beaufort.

In Thessaloniki, clear skies are expected, with light winds in the Thermaic Gulf and temperatures reaching up to 33 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday, the first day of August, the meltemi winds will remain strengthened, with almost unchanged intensity, while temperatures will fall slightly.

From Sunday onwards, the weakening of the winds will lead to a new rise in temperatures. During the first days of August, the heat will remain moderate, while the meltemi winds will reach up to 6 Beaufort.