Greece remains under the grip of a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 40°C across much of the country. A brief respite is expected on Friday (28 August 2026) and Saturday (29 August 2026), but scorching conditions will return from Sunday (30 August 2026), becoming increasingly oppressive. Meteorologist Anastasia Tyraski of ERT confirms that high temperatures are set to persist into early September, with no significant weather shift in sight.
Current Conditions and Regional Outlook
The current heatwave began last Saturday and shows no signs of easing—instead, a new, intense wave is forecast to hit the country soon. Today, Attica is particularly hot, with thermometers expected to reach 38°C—and locally up to 39°C. Winds across most of the region remain light, at 3–4 Beaufort, though stronger northerlies—up to 6 Beaufort—will affect the Evia Strait and far-eastern coastal areas.
In Thessaloniki, skies will be mostly clear during the morning, with only scattered clouds developing by midday and afternoon. There’s a low chance of isolated thunderstorms over nearby mountainous zones. Sea breezes will bring southeasterly winds of up to 4 Beaufort. Temperatures will climb to 35°C along the coast, slightly higher inland.
Wednesday and Thursday: Rising Heat and Wind Risks
High temperatures will continue tomorrow, Wednesday (26 August 2026), with winds shifting to westerly and northwesterly—reaching up to 6 Beaufort in the eastern Aegean and Ionian Sea. This shift will fuel even hotter conditions across eastern mainland Greece, including Thessaly, eastern Central Greece, and the Peloponnese, where readings may again approach 39–40°C. In contrast, northern Greece will see marginally lower temperatures as cooler maritime air moves in from the west and northwest.
Thursday (27 August 2026) poses heightened danger. Dominant high pressure will draw extremely hot air masses from central Mediterranean regions toward Greece—pushing temperatures back to 40°C in northern Greece, Thessaly, Central Greece, and the Peloponnese. At the same time, the pressure gradient between high pressure over Greece and low pressure near Cyprus will significantly intensify northerly winds across the Aegean, gusting up to 7 Beaufort. These strong, dry winds dramatically increase fire risk—prompting official wildfire alerts.
Friday: Temporary Relief, Then Return of Extreme Heat
A modest cooling trend begins Friday, as powerful northerlies strengthen further and veer to the northeast—gradually lowering temperatures in eastern Greece. However, this relief is short-lived: the next heatwave is already forming and expected to take hold from Sunday onward.