Civil Protection forces will be on heightened alert today, August 15, as persistent storm-force winds — locally reaching 9 Beaufort, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h — combined with high temperatures are creating an especially dangerous situation in terms of wildfire risk. Nineteen regions across the country, including Attica, are under Red Code.

📌 Σε κατάσταση κινητοποίησης Red Code πολλές περιοχές της χώρας για αύριο Σάββατο 15 Αυγούστου

📄 https://t.co/h8igRmO3nk pic.twitter.com/JjV0FoP9Nl— Civil Protection GR (@CivPro_GR) August 14, 2026

Specifically, for Saturday, August 15, 2026, the following areas have been placed under Red Code (Risk Category 5):

• Attica Region, including the island of Kythira
• The regional units of Corinthia, Argolis and Laconia in the Peloponnese
• The regional units of Achaia and Elis in Western Greece
• The regional units of Boeotia, Phthiotis and Evia in Central Greece, including the island of Skyros
• The Sporades regional unit in Thessaly
• The North Aegean Region
• The South Aegean Region
• Crete
• The Chalkidiki regional unit and Mount Athos in Central Macedonia

Meanwhile, a very high risk (Category 4) is forecast for the regional units of Kavala, Thasos, Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, including the island of Samothrace.

Storm-force winds of up to 9 Beaufort, with 100 km/h gusts in Crete

Earlier, the Risk Assessment Committee met again following an invitation from the Secretary-General for Civil Protection, Nikos Papaefstathiou, in the presence of the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas. The meeting focused on the storm-force winds affecting large parts of the country.

According to the committee’s scientists, very strong to storm-force winds will persist through August 15, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of Greece.

More specifically:

• Thrace: Northerly to northeasterly winds of 5–7 Beaufort, while the northern and northeastern Aegean islands will see 6–8 Beaufort.
• Eastern and southern Peloponnese: Winds of 5–7 Beaufort.
• Attica, Boeotia and Evia: Northerly winds of 6–7 Beaufort, locally reaching 8 Beaufort until the afternoon.
• Central Aegean: Winds reaching 7–8 Beaufort, locally 9 Beaufort until the afternoon. The Cyclades will see 7–8 Beaufort, locally reaching 9 Beaufort in the north.
• Crete: Northerly winds of 6–8 Beaufort, with gusts in the south of the island expected to exceed 100 km/h.
• Kasos and Karpathos: Northwesterly winds of 7–8 Beaufort.

A further weakening of the winds is expected from Sunday afternoon.

Municipalities and regions on standby

According to Civil Protection, Red Code means full mobilization, with the necessary personnel, equipment and resources deployed to prepare for an imminent threat, respond to emergencies, and manage the consequences of a disaster. Short-term recovery, assistance and support measures are also initiated to reduce the effects of a disaster.

As part of these measures, municipalities and regional authorities in the affected areas have been instructed to immediately convene their respective Civil Protection coordination bodies to address preparedness and response to the risk of forest fires.

In plain English: today, August 15, is expected to be a particularly dangerous day for wildfires in much of Greece. Attica is at the highest fire-risk level (Red Code/Category 5), and the winds around Attica and Evia can reach 7–8 Beaufort. The strongest conditions are expected through today, with a more noticeable easing from Sunday afternoon, August 16.