According to expert meteorologists Theodoros Kolydas and Klearchos Marousakis, Greece is currently experiencing a temporary easing in wind intensity and a modest temperature rise. However, this calm pattern is not expected to last. By the weekend, a notable atmospheric disturbance will bring cooler temperatures, increased wind speeds, and heightened instability across much of the mainland.
Short-Term Forecast: Gradual Warm-Up Before a Weather Reversal
- Theodoros Kolydas, former director of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), notes that winds will gradually weaken through midweek, with a slight uptick in temperatures. By the weekend, however, stronger winds are forecast to return, accompanied by a temperature drop of approximately 3°C.
- Kolydas highlights increased atmospheric volatility beginning Friday, especially in continental regions, with scattered rain continuing into Saturday.
Marousakis: Heatwave Peak Followed by Cold Trough Intrusion
- Klearchos Marousakis adds that Thursday and Friday will mark the peak of a heatwave, followed by a rapid change in weather as a cut-off cold low—a mass of colder air aloft—moves from central Europe toward the central Mediterranean.
- This “cold lake”, forming over Italy, will disrupt the general atmospheric flow and funnel cooler air masses southward, setting the stage for destabilized conditions, scattered storms, and a return to seasonal or below-normal temperatures by the weekend.
High Fire Risk Alert in 13 Areas
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a Category 3 (high) fire risk warning for Tuesday, June 17, in the following regions:
- Attica, southern Evia, Argolida, parts of Corinthia
- Crete, Karpathos, Kassos, Cyclades
- Lesvos, Chios, Psara, Samos, Ikaria
➡️ View the full Fire Risk Forecast Map at civilprotection.gov.gr.
Wind Patterns Visible from Space
Recent Sentinel-3 satellite imagery from June 15, 2025, reveals the dramatic effect of strong northerly winds (meltemi) across the eastern Aegean. Wind gusts exceeded 80 km/h, sculpting distinctive patterns on the sea surface. These images, processed by the METEO unit of the National Observatory of Athens, demonstrate the value of satellite technology in real-time monitoring of high-impact weather systems.
Detailed Weather Forecast: Day-by-Day
Tuesday, June 17
- Weather: Mostly clear skies with localized afternoon clouds and isolated thunderstorms over the Pindos mountain range, Thessaly, and the Peloponnese.
- Temperature: Highs of 34–36°C in Thessaly; cooler in the Ionian and Aegean Islands.
- Winds: North in the Aegean (up to 6 Beaufort); west-northwest in the Ionian (4 Beaufort).
Wednesday, June 18
- Conditions: Partly cloudy in western/northern mainland; scattered rain in Epirus and Western Macedonia.
- Winds: North winds persist in the Aegean (up to 6 Beaufort).
- Temperature: Slight rise, with highs reaching 35°C in the mainland.
Thursday, June 19
- Weather: Mostly clear, with isolated afternoon storms over northern mountains.
- Winds: Westerlies in the west, northerlies in the east, and Aegean.
- Temperature: Further slight increase.
Friday, June 20
- Conditions: Afternoon storms are expected in mainland Greece and Evia, particularly over high terrain.
- Winds: Variable inland; northerly winds up to 5 Beaufort in the Aegean.
- Temperature: Stable.
Saturday, June 21
- Weather: Localized thunderstorms in Central Macedonia and Thessaly; clearer elsewhere with isolated mountain showers.
- Winds: Intensifying northerlies, peaking at 6 Beaufort in the Aegean.
- Temperature: Slight decline, especially in the north.
Final Note
This week will be characterized by a transitional weather pattern: warming conditions early on will give way to significant weekend volatility, driven by an upper-level trough. Residents and visitors should remain vigilant for changing conditions, especially in fire-prone and mountainous areas.
For continuous updates, follow @KolydasT, @klearchosweather, and @meteo_gr on social media, or consult the HNMS and Civil Protection Authority websites.
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