In the summer of 2024, the average value of maximum daily temperatures ranged at very high levels across the country, compared to the average for the period 2010-2019, according to the dense network of meteo.gr weather stations of the National Observatory of Athens (NAA).
The main feature of this summer was the many consecutive days with very high temperatures during the day and night (mainly in large urban centers). For many days in several parts of the country the temperature exceeded 37 °C. The following figure shows for each weather station the total number of days during the summer months of 2024 when the maximum temperature exceeded 37°C.
As shown in the table below, in Gavalou in Aitoloakarnania and in Skala in Messinia the maximum temperature this summer exceeded 37 °C on 60 of the 92 days of the summer.
Some key conclusions from the analysis of maximum temperatures:
The regions that recorded the most days with very high daily maximum temperatures in summer 2024 were Western Greece, Northern Greece and the Peloponnese.
Most of the regions of Greece were in the north of the country, with the highest number of Greece’s most populated areas and the highest number of Greece’s most populated areas in the south of Europe.
– 22% of all weather stations (500) had maximum temperatures exceeding 37 °C for at least 25 days.
– In the center of Athens, the temperature exceeded 37 °C for 45 days at Harokopeio University in the Kallithea area and for 30 days in the Piraeus area.
– In the city of Thessaloniki the temperature exceeded 37 °C for 31 days in the area of Sindos and for 21 days in the area of Kordelios.
– The Aegean region was unaffected by the heat waves due to the influence of the north winds with few stations recording temperature values higher than 37 °C for more than 4-6 days. The same in Crete (mainly in the north), with the sole exception of the Messara areas in southern Crete.
Regarding minimum daily temperature values, values were particularly high in large urban centers with temperatures remaining at very high levels (26-28 °C) throughout the night. The figure below shows for each weather station the total days during the summer of 2024 when the temperature was maintained above 26 °C.
As shown in the table below in Lindo, the minimum temperature this summer did not drop below 26 °C on 86 of 92 days this summer.
Some key conclusions from the analysis of daily minimum temperature values:
– The areas that recorded the most days with very high temperatures during the night were mainly large urban centers such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Volos.
– The region of Attica and especially the Athens Basin recorded the most days with very high temperatures during the night.
– In most of the Athens basin, the temperature did not fall below 26 °C on 60 of the 92 days of the summer. More specifically, in Neos Kosmos on 81 of the 92 days of the summer the temperature did not fall below 26 °C, as well as in Nikaia on 78 days.
– High values of minimum daily temperature were also recorded in some island areas of the Aegean mainly due to the influence of the north winds where there is a small variation in temperature during the day.
Thodoros Kolydas wrote in a post that the temperature is consistently about 3 to 4 degrees above normal values. “We are hoping for good news about rain, as we observe that the weather pattern is gradually changing in Central Europe and the Northern Balkans with many phenomena,” he added.
