Greece is bracing for even hotter temperatures as the heat is set to hit an unbearable 46C on Tuesday according to a new forecast, as the authorities swing into action. WXCharts weather maps for July 22 have turned volcanic red, with health officials warning of serious risks related to heat stress and heatstroke.
The maps, generated on July 21, suggest the area between Larissa and Karditsa will face highs of 46C tomorrow. Several other areas across Greece are also forecast for a 40C+ blast, with only coastal areas being spared by the worst heat. Still, even island retreats such as Crete and the Cyclades are set to see temperatures into the 30C tomorrow, the maps suggest. The maps also suggest that Monday will see highs of 43C.
The forecast comes at a time when several British tourists have been travelling to the popular tourist destination for the summer break.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has announced a suspension of certain outdoor work between 12pm and 5pm on Monday. The measure applies to areas expected to be most affected, including sections of Evros, Serres, Larissa, Viotia, Halkidiki, Imathia, Trikala, Fthiotida, Aetolia-Acarnania, the Ionian Islands, eastern Rhodes, and coastal regions of the Peloponnese.
According to the National Meteorological Service (EMY), large hot air masses moving across the country are expected to bring extreme weather until at least Wednesday, with unusually high temperatures likely to continue through Friday.
Christos Giannaros, a meteorologist at the National Observatory of Athens, told state broadcaster ERT that the human body struggles to regulate its temperature in such extreme heat, which can disrupt key physiological functions. Symptoms of heat stress may include headaches, dizziness, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, and a rapid but weak pulse.
The rising temperatures pushed the authorities to shut down the Acropolos, Greece’s most popular tourist attractions in June. However, no such decision has been taken so far this month.
It comes as scientists warn about the deaths in Europe due to the climate change. Conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the stude revealed that around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during the severe heatwave.
Of the 2,300 people estimated to have died during this period, 1,500 deaths were linked to climate change, which made the heatwave more severe, the study explained.
Dr Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London said: “Climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous.”