The Hellenic National Meteorological Service issued an emergency bulletin for today, Wednesday (22/7), warning of the heatwave affecting the country, with temperatures exceeding 40°C.

According to the HNMS, temperatures will remain at very high levels, reaching 41–42°C across the central and southern mainland, and locally up to 43°C in Thessaly.

At the same time, the service emphasizes that many mainland areas are expected to experience severe heat stress due to the exceptionally high temperatures forecast.

Detailed Weather Forecast for Today (22/7)

During the early morning hours, local showers and isolated thunderstorms will occur in Epirus and the northern Ionian Sea.

In the rest of northern Greece, a few clouds will quickly increase, bringing local showers and isolated thunderstorms.

These weather phenomena will gradually weaken from late afternoon onward. During the evening, local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms are expected over the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean.

In the rest of the country, weather will generally be clear, with temporary cloud development over the mainland—mainly mountainous areas—during the midday and afternoon hours, when local showers are possible in the mountains of Thessaly.

A temporary partial transport of African dust is also expected.

Winds in the southeastern regions will blow from the northwest at 5 to 6 Beaufort. Elsewhere, winds will initially be variable at 3 to 4 Beaufort, gradually shifting to westerly directions at 4 to 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 Beaufort in western and southern areas. From the evening onward, northern areas will experience northerly winds locally reaching 6 Beaufort.

Temperatures will decrease in northern Greece, but will remain high across the southern mainland and the southern island regions. Maximum temperatures will reach:

• 34–35°C in the Cyclades,
• 35–37°C across the rest of the islands and northern mainland, locally up to 38°C,
• 38–40°C across the central and southern mainland, locally 41–42°C,
• and locally up to 43°C in Thessaly.

Mandatory Suspension of Outdoor Work in Attica and Three Regions

Emergency measures to protect private-sector workers from heat stress come into force today because of the exceptionally high temperatures expected.

According to the relevant circular issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, signed by the Secretary General for Labour Relations, Nikos Milapidis, employers are required to implement the necessary technical and organizational measures to protect employees working under dependent employment contracts, in accordance with the framework established for preventing heat stress.

Specifically, a mandatory suspension of outdoor manual work carried out in open-air environments will apply from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in:

• Eastern Central Greece,
• Thessaly,
• Eastern Peloponnese,
• and all of Attica.

The measure applies, among other activities, to work on engineering and construction projects, building sites, ship repair zones, as well as the delivery and transportation of goods using motorcycles, scooters, electric scooters, or roller skates.

The mandatory suspension applies to all workers, regardless of their form of employment, including those working through digital platforms.

For food delivery businesses, the suspension applies to both physical stores and digital platforms. However, customers may still collect orders from stores, and deliveries may continue using privately or publicly owned vehicles equipped with air conditioning, excluding motorcycles and mopeds.

Activities related to critical social infrastructure are exempt from the mandatory suspension, including those in healthcare, transportation, and public utilities. Exemptions include healthcare facilities, water supply, electricity services, air transport, ground handling, and maritime, road, and rail transport.

These operations may continue only if the required technical and organizational protective measures are implemented, including the appropriate organization of working hours.

As stated in the circular, if the mandatory suspension is violated, the Labour Inspectorate may impose a fine of €2,000 for each employee involved.

Finally, for workers belonging to high-risk groups who are exposed to adverse conditions in the affected regions, businesses must provide the option of remote work whenever the nature of their duties allows.

To facilitate changes in arrival and departure times, employers in the areas where the emergency measures apply will not be required to register every change in working-time arrangements in advance in the ERGANI employment information system.

Weather Outlook – Heatwave Subsides from Tomorrow (23/7)

In the eastern mainland, the Sporades, and Evia, there will be scattered clouds that will temporarily become denser, bringing local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to gradually improve from the afternoon onward.

Elsewhere, weather will generally be clear, with temporary cloud development over the mainland during the midday and afternoon hours, when local showers or rain are possible in mountainous areas.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort.

Temperatures will fall throughout the country, returning to levels typical for the season. Maximum temperatures will reach 32–33°C, and locally 34–35°C on the mainland and in the Dodecanese.

Forecast for Friday (24/7)

A change in the weather is expected, initially in western and northern Greece and gradually across the rest of the country. Clouds will temporarily increase, bringing local showers and scattered thunderstorms.

The phenomena may be locally intense in Central Macedonia, eastern Thessaly, the Sporades, and Evia.

Conditions will gradually improve from the evening onward, mainly in western Greece.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 Beaufort over the seas and temporarily up to 7 Beaufort in the northern Ionian Sea.

Temperatures will fall slightly further in northern Greece.

Weather on Saturday (25/7)

In eastern Greece, increased cloud cover with local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms is expected until the afternoon.

Elsewhere, there will be a few clouds, temporarily increasing during the midday and afternoon hours.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally reaching 7 Beaufort in the Aegean.

Temperatures will remain largely unchanged.

Weather on Sunday (26/7)

Generally clear weather is expected, with temporary cloud development during the midday and afternoon hours in northern Greece.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, and 6 to locally 7 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean. From the afternoon onward, southerly winds of the same strength will prevail in the Ionian Sea and the western Aegean.

Temperatures will rise slightly in western Greece.