A strong, short-lived heatwave is gripping Greece, pushing temperatures above 39°C in many areas—and reaching as high as 42°C in parts of Thessaly and Epirus. Tuesday, 21 July 2026, saw inland regions sweltering, with the peak expected Wednesday across Attica, where thermometers may hit 40°C—or even 41°C locally.
Sharp Turn in Weather From Thursday
According to meteorologist Giannis Kallianos, the intense heat will last just one more day. But over the next 36 hours, a significant shift is forecast: temperatures are expected to drop sharply—by 8 to 10 degrees—starting Thursday. Cloud cover will increase from the north and gradually spread southward, bringing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms to several parts of the country.
Regional Outlook
Sunny and mostly clear conditions will dominate Wednesday across the Ionian Islands, mainland Greece—including Epirus and Thessaly—as well as the Aegean and Evia. In contrast, isolated thunderstorms and light rain are possible in mountainous areas of Macedonia and Thrace, and near the northeastern Aegean islands—including Lemnos and Samothrace.
From Thursday onward, cloud cover will intensify in northern Greece before moving south. By Friday, weather changes will be most noticeable in western and northern regions—and gradually extend elsewhere. Scattered showers and occasional thunderstorms are expected, especially in Central Macedonia, eastern Thessaly, the Sporades, and Evia. Some of these storms could be locally intense.
Conditions are expected to ease gradually from evening onward, particularly in western Greece.
Weekend Forecast
Over the weekend, winds will strengthen slightly—reaching Force 6–7 on the Beaufort scale over open waters. Saturday’s temperatures will hover around 34–35°C, with a slight rise anticipated on Sunday.
Attica & Thessaloniki
In Attica, skies will remain clear all day Wednesday, marking the peak of the heatwave: temperatures will climb from 27°C early morning to 40–41°C in some inland areas by late afternoon. As Kallianos explained on Mega TV, while Athens city center reached 38–39°C on Tuesday, the real peak arrives Wednesday—making it the hottest day of the spell for the region.
In Thessaloniki, skies will be partly cloudy with periodic thickening, especially over hills and semi-mountainous zones, where brief showers are possible. Temperatures there will range from 23°C to 34°C.