Greece is set to see extreme hot weather this weekend, as the country is gripped in a heatwave that’s prompted the closure of the temporary Parthenon. Weather maps generated on July 24 by WXCharts, which uses Met Desk data, suggest highs of 45C will hit central Greece on Sunday (July 27).
The centre of the mainland (Palamas, Karditsa, Mouzaki, and Trikala) is forecasted to reach the hottest temperatures, 45C. Temperatures will be between 40C and 42C in Larissa, Kalabaka, Elassona, Elateia, Kilkis, Serres, Drama, Tripoli, and Sparti, according to the maps. The forecast suggests there will be highs of between 35C and 39C in Arriana, Thessaloniki, Edessa, Velventos, Galatini, Paramythia, Psachna, Athens, Livadia, Nafpaktos, Karpenissi. It will be between 31C and 34C in Stavros, Pefkochori, Konitsa, Ioannina, Volos, Mytikas, and Argos, the maps show. Islands including Crete, Naxos, Kithira will be around 30C on the weekend, the maps suggest.
The Hellenic National Meteorological Agency said of the day: “Generally clear weather. During the midday-afternoon hours, temporary clouds will develop in the central and northern mainland, so there is a small possibility of temporary showers in the northern mountainous areas.
“The temperature will drop slightly in the northwest. The maximum values will reach 38C to 40C in the mainland and 41C locally in the east.
“In Athens, 40C to 41C, in Thessaloniki, 37C to 38C. In the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese, 36C to 38C, and in the Ionian islands and Crete, 35C to 37C.”
The extreme heat that’s been gripping Greece in recent weeks has prompted multiple times the closure of the Parthenon during the hottest hours of the day.
Temperatures persisting over 40C in multiple areas of the country have also prompted school closures and health warnings, with officials urging people to be mindful of the serious risks of heat stress and heatstroke.
People working outside have also been urged by the Greek government to put down their tools during the hottest hours.