While high temperatures are receding today, increasing winds have heightened the risk of wildfires across several regions. Authorities remain on alert, particularly in areas designated as “Category 5 – Extreme Risk.”

According to the National Meteorological Service (EMY), strong northerly winds—reaching up to 9 Beaufort locally—are expected across the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, and the eastern Aegean. The Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection has marked at least 10 regions, including Attica, in the “red zone” for extreme fire risk.

Sunday, June 29: Extreme Fire Risk Areas (Category 5)

• Attica & Kythera
• Laconia & southern Euboea
• Crete
• North Aegean Islands: Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Psara, and Ikaria

Very High Risk (Category 4) & High Risk (Category 3) areas include:

• Large parts of the island country
• Several mainland regions

Detailed Forecast by Region

Category 5 – Extreme Risk is forecast for:

• Attica (including Kythera)
• Central Greece (Evia, excluding Skyros)
• Peloponnese (Laconia)
• Crete
• North Aegean (Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria)

Category 4 – Very High Risk includes:

• Peloponnese
• Western Greece (Achaia, Ilia)
• Central Greece (Boeotia, Fthiotida, Skyros)
• Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Thassos, Rodopi, Evros incl. Samothrace)
• North Aegean (Lemnos)
• South Aegean

Civil Protection Measures & Public Advisory

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has alerted all relevant government services, regional authorities, and municipalities to be on heightened readiness.

Citizens are strongly urged to avoid fire-hazardous activities in nature, including:

• Burning dry grass or debris
• Using spark-producing machinery (e.g., saws, welding tools)
• Outdoor barbecues or beekeeping smokers
• Disposing of lit cigarettes

Reminder: Burning fields is strictly prohibited during fire season.

In the event of a fire, citizens should immediately call the Fire Department at 199.

More safety information is available at civilprotection.gov.gr.

Athens on High Alert – Lycabettus Hill Closed

Due to the fire risk and strong winds, the Municipality of Athens has activated all emergency protocols. Lycabettus Hill will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Municipal services, including Cleaning and Greenery, are conducting 24-hour patrols.

• Municipal Police teams are monitoring from land and air (via drones).
• A thermal imaging camera will survey major green zones.
• Water trucks are on standby.

The Municipal Operations Center is fully operational, assisting the Fire Department and other agencies. Citizens can report emergencies by calling 1595 or 210 5287800 (24/7).

Fire Service on General Alert

The Fire Brigade has placed personnel on general alert in all Category 5 areas and on partial alert in Category 4 regions, according to the Fire Risk Prediction Map.

Weather Outlook – July Begins with Normal Temperatures

Meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas reports that temperatures for the first half of July are expected to remain within seasonal norms. A brief temperature spike may occur toward the end of the first 10-day period.

“Temperatures will stay normal for most of early July, with only a short-lived rise anticipated later in the first ten days,” Kolydas noted on X (@KolydasT), accompanied by weather maps.

Weather Today – Sunday, June 29

• Local cloud cover expected in the mainland, Evia, the Ionian, and North Aegean.
• Showers in Thrace and North Aegean early in the day.
• Clear skies over the southern Aegean and Crete.
• Mild dust concentrations in the south until morning.

Temperatures (°C):

• Western Macedonia: 19–30
• Macedonia & Thrace: 20–34
• Thessaly: 24–33
• Epirus: 21–37
• Eastern Central Greece & Peloponnese: 22–34
• Ionian Islands: 26–36
• Cyclades: 24–31
• Crete: 21–33
• Dodecanese: up to 37

Winds:

• Aegean: North 3–5 Beaufort; 6–7 in south Crete
• Ionian: Shifting from east (2–4 Bft) to northwest (3–5 Bft)

Regional Forecasts

Athens (Attica):

• Partly cloudy until noon
• Winds: North 3–5 Bft
• Temp: 28–32°C

Thessaloniki:

• Partly cloudy
• Winds: Variable up to 3 Bft
• Temp: 27–31°C

Upcoming Weather

Monday, June 30

• Mostly clear, clouds in eastern Macedonia & Thrace
• North winds up to 8 Bft in southern Aegean
• Slight rise in temperatures: 33–35°C inland, 28–32°C islands

Tuesday, July 1

• Clear skies with clouds in mountain areas by afternoon
• North winds up to 7 Bft
• Slight temperature rise continues

Wednesday, July 2

• Mostly clear; clouds & possible rain in central Macedonia and Thessaly
• North winds 6–8 Bft
• Slight temperature drop inland

Thursday, July 3

• Mostly sunny with some clouds in western Macedonia and Epirus
• Strong northerly winds up to 8 Bft in the Aegean
• Temperatures stable