Heatwave eases: Weather to turn unsettled with rain, thunderstorms and hail

A welcome break from the heat arrives today, Thursday (23/07), following the three-day heatwave that swept across Greece, with temperatures exceeding 43°C in some areas.

From today, temperatures are expected to fall nationwide, with maximum highs reaching around 35°C.

At the same time, rain, thunderstorms and hail are forecast in several regions today and tomorrow, Friday (24/07).

Weather Forecast for Thursday (23/07)

Northern and eastern mainland Greece, the Sporades, Evia, and during the early hours the northeastern Aegean islands will see partly cloudy skies with occasional local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to gradually improve from the afternoon onwards. The rest of the country will enjoy generally clear weather.

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

Temperatures will fall across the country, returning to seasonal levels. Highs will range between 32°C and 33°C in most areas, while parts of the mainland, Crete and the Dodecanese will reach 34°C to 35°C.

Macedonia and Thrace

Weather: Partly cloudy, with temporarily increased cloud cover over Central and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, where local showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible.
Winds: Northerly at 4–5 Beaufort, becoming variable at 3–4 Beaufort from the afternoon.
Temperature: 19°C to 32°C. Western Macedonia will be 2–3°C cooler overnight.

Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Central Greece and Western Peloponnese

Weather: Generally sunny, with a few temporary clouds over the mainland.
Winds: Northwesterly at 4–5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort over the Ionian Sea, gradually easing from the afternoon.
Temperature: 22°C to 33°C, locally up to 35°C inland. Overnight lows in Epirus will be 2–3°C lower.

Thessaly, Eastern Central Greece, Evia and Eastern Peloponnese

Weather: The Sporades and Evia will start with partly cloudy skies and local showers, with isolated thunderstorms possible until midday. Elsewhere, temporary cloud development is expected, mainly during the afternoon, with a chance of local showers.
Winds: Northerly at 4–5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort in eastern areas during the morning. Winds will shift to easterly and southeasterly in the afternoon and weaken.
Temperature: 23°C to 34°C.

Cyclades and Crete

Weather: Generally sunny.
Winds: Northerly at 4–6 Beaufort, gradually easing from the afternoon.
Temperature: 24°C to 32°C, reaching 33–34°C in Crete.

Eastern Aegean Islands and Dodecanese

Weather: Generally sunny, with temporary cloud cover over the northern islands during the early morning, when local showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible.
Winds: Northerly at 4–6 Beaufort, locally 7 Beaufort in the southern areas, easing in the northern islands by evening.
Temperature: 24°C to 35°C.

Attica

Weather: Partly cloudy, with temporary increases in cloud cover until the afternoon, when local showers are possible.
Winds: Northerly at 4–5 Beaufort, locally 6 Beaufort in eastern areas during the morning. Winds will turn easterly to southeasterly in the afternoon and weaken.
Temperature: 25°C to 34°C.

Thessaloniki

Weather: Partly cloudy with temporary cloud increases.
Winds: North to northwesterly at 4–5 Beaufort, becoming variable at 2–3 Beaufort in the afternoon.
Temperature: 22°C to 32°C.

Weather Forecast for Friday (24/07)

A change in the weather is expected to begin in western and northern Greece before gradually spreading to the rest of the country. Periods of increased cloud cover will bring local showers, scattered thunderstorms and possibly hail.

The strongest weather is expected in Central Macedonia, eastern Thessaly, the Sporades and northern Evia. Conditions will gradually improve from the evening, especially in western Greece.

Winds will blow from the north at 3–5 Beaufort, locally reaching 6 Beaufort over the seas and briefly up to 7 Beaufort in the northern Ionian.

Temperatures will fall slightly further, with highs of 29–30°C in northern Greece, 31–32°C across the rest of the mainland, and 33–34°C in Crete and the Dodecanese.

Weather Forecast for Saturday (25/07)

Eastern Greece will experience increased cloud cover with local showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms until the afternoon. Elsewhere, skies will be mostly clear with temporary cloud development during the afternoon.

Northerly winds will blow at 4–6 Beaufort, reaching locally 7 Beaufort in the Aegean.

Temperatures will remain largely unchanged.

Weather Forecast for Sunday (26/07)

Mostly sunny conditions are expected, with temporary afternoon cloud development in northern Greece.

Winds will blow from the north at 3–5 Beaufort, reaching 6–7 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean. From the afternoon, southerly winds of similar strength will develop over the Ionian Sea and the western Aegean.

Temperatures will rise slightly in western Greece.