Heatwave grips the country as temperatures soar to 41°C

The weather on Monday, 20 July, will be extremely hot, with temperatures locally reaching as high as 40°C to 41°C in mainland areas.

High temperatures will persist on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a gradual decline in the north and a broader easing of the heat by Thursday.

How the heatwave will develop

As former director of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), Theodoros Kolydas, noted in a post, the outlook for the three-day period from Monday to Wednesday indicates that this will not be merely a “hot spell”, but a heat episode with heatwave characteristics, mainly across the mainland.

The heat is expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday. Although Wednesday is expected to bring a slight easing in the upper atmospheric layers, the change will not be pronounced enough to signal an immediate end to the episode in most areas.

According to Mr Kolydas, the transport of hot air will be more organised on Monday and Tuesday, with the highest temperatures mainly affecting eastern and central mainland Greece, Thessaly, eastern Central Greece, parts of the Peloponnese and, locally, Attica.

In these areas, maximum temperatures may reach or exceed 40°C, particularly where downslope winds develop or the moderating influence of the sea is weak.

“Wednesday requires careful interpretation. Although there appears to be a relative decline in the temperature of the upper warm air mass, surface-level heat will not ease immediately. The ground will already have become intensely heated, minimum temperatures will remain high in several areas and, in practical terms of heat stress, the heatwave will continue across most mainland regions,” he added.

He concluded: “A substantial easing appears more likely from Thursday, when a more northerly airflow and the gradual replacement of the very hot air mass will begin to bring temperatures down more noticeably, first in northern and eastern areas and then farther south.”

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Detailed weather forecast for the coming days

FORECAST FOR MONDAY, 20 JULY 2026

MACEDONIA, THRACE

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary cloud developing around midday and in the afternoon, when local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms may occur over mountainous areas.

Winds: Variable, Force 3 to 4.

Temperature: From 21°C to 37°C-38°C and locally up to 40°C in central Macedonia. In western Macedonia, minimum temperatures will be 2°C to 3°C lower.

IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIRUS, WESTERN CENTRAL GREECE, WESTERN PELOPONNESE

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary cloud over mainland areas around midday and in the afternoon, when local showers may occur over mountainous regions.

Winds: Variable, Force 2 to 4, becoming westerly to north-westerly from midday at the same strength.

Temperature: From 23°C to 37°C and between 39°C and 40°C in mainland areas. In Epirus, minimum temperatures will be 2°C to 3°C lower.

THESSALY, EASTERN CENTRAL GREECE, EVIA, EASTERN PELOPONNESE

Weather: Generally clear, with some temporary cloud over mainland areas around midday and in the afternoon, when local showers may occur over mountainous regions, mainly in Thessaly.

Winds: Variable, Force 3 to 4, temporarily northerly to north-easterly up to Force 5 in eastern areas.

Temperature: From 23°C to 39°C-40°C and locally up to 41°C.

CYCLADES, CRETE

Weather: Clear.

Winds: Northerly, Force 4 to 5, increasing to Force 6 in eastern areas from midday.

Temperature: From 24°C to 34°C and locally between 35°C and 36°C in Crete.

EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS – DODECANESE

Weather: Clear.

Winds: Northerly, Force 4 to 6.

Temperature: From 23°C to 36°C-37°C.

ATTICA

Weather: Generally clear, with some temporary cloud around midday and in the afternoon.

Winds: Northerly to north-easterly, Force 3 to 4, temporarily reaching Force 5 in eastern areas.

Temperature: From 25°C to 38°C. Maximum temperatures in coastal areas will be 2°C to 3°C lower.

THESSALONIKI

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary cloud around midday and in the afternoon, when local showers may occur over the surrounding mountainous areas.

Winds: Variable, Force 2 to 3, becoming southerly to south-easterly up to Force 4 around midday and in the afternoon.

Temperature: From 24°C to 37°C.

FORECAST FOR TUESDAY, 21 JULY 2026

In eastern Macedonia and Thrace, there will be some cloud, becoming denser from late morning, with local rain and isolated thunderstorms around midday and in the afternoon. Conditions are expected to improve from the evening.

In the rest of the country, the weather will be generally clear, with temporary cloud around midday and in the afternoon, mainly over central and northern mainland areas, where local showers will occur over mountainous regions.

A limited amount of African dust is expected to be transported over western areas.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at Force 3 to 5 and locally up to Force 6 over the seas.

Temperatures will remain high. They will reach 33°C to 34°C in the Cyclades, 35°C to 37°C in the rest of the islands and 38°C to 39°C, locally reaching 40°C to 41°C, in mainland areas.

FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, 22 JULY 2026

In northern mainland areas, there will be some cloud, which will quickly become denser, bringing local rain. Scattered thunderstorms will occur mainly in central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The phenomena will gradually weaken from late afternoon.

In the rest of the country, the weather will be generally clear, with temporary cloud around midday and in the afternoon in Thessaly, the Sporades, eastern Central Greece and Evia, where local rain or showers may occur.

A temporary, limited transport of African dust is expected.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at Force 3 to 5 and locally up to Force 6 over the seas.

Temperatures will fall in northern areas, but will remain high in southern mainland Greece and the southern islands.

FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, 23 JULY 2026

In eastern mainland areas, the Sporades and Evia, there will be some cloud, temporarily becoming denser, with local rain and possibly isolated thunderstorms. A gradual easing is expected from the evening.

In the rest of the country, the weather will be generally clear, with temporary cloud over mainland areas around midday and in the afternoon, when local rain or showers may occur over mountainous regions.

Winds will blow from northerly directions at Force 3 to 5, locally reaching Force 6 over the seas and temporarily up to Force 7 in the south-eastern Aegean.

Temperatures will fall across the country and return to levels normal for the time of year.