Saturday, 29 August 2026, will bring a dramatic shift in Greece’s weather pattern. After nearly calm conditions over the past 24 hours, powerful northerly winds are expected to sweep across much of the country — with gusts reaching up to 120 km/h, particularly in Crete and the southeastern Aegean. Despite the surge in wind intensity, high temperatures will persist, climbing as high as 38°C in western mainland areas.
Extreme Winds Across Key Regions
According to high-resolution forecasting models from the National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr, wind speeds will reach 7 Beaufort across much of the Aegean Sea, and locally hit 8 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean — equivalent to strong gales. But it’s the gusts, not just average wind speeds, that pose the greatest concern: they’re expected to far exceed sustained wind levels.
Crete is forecast to bear the brunt of the strongest winds. Gusts there may surpass 100 km/h island-wide, with eastern Crete facing the most extreme conditions — potentially seeing gusts between 110 and 120 km/h. In the southeastern Aegean, gusts are expected to approach 90 km/h, especially on islands like Rhodes and Kos.
Thunderstorms Expected in Northern and Central Greece
The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) forecasts generally clear skies nationwide, though with some short-lived cloud buildup — in northeastern areas during early morning hours, and over mainland regions in the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon across western and central Macedonia, Epirus, and possibly western Sterea Ellada and Thessaly.
In Thessaloniki, brief local cloud cover is expected in the morning, followed by renewed cloudiness and possible thunderstorms late in the afternoon — potentially continuing into the evening. Western Macedonia will see storms develop earlier in the afternoon, spreading gradually to central Macedonia and lingering through the night.
Temperatures and Regional Forecasts
Temperatures will remain high but show a slight dip, especially in eastern parts of the country. The Ionian Islands and western mainland will see highs of 35–37°C, with localized peaks of 38°C in western Epirus and Aetolia-Acarnania. In the Aegean islands, daytime highs will range from 30–31°C, rising to 33–34°C in eastern islands and southern Crete.
Attica: Mostly clear skies, with northeasterly winds at 4–5 Beaufort — increasing to 6 Beaufort in eastern suburbs before gradually easing after noon. Temperatures between 24°C and 34°C.
Macedonia & Thrace: Morning cloud cover in eastern sectors, shifting to afternoon clouds in western areas. Winds will be variable at 4 Beaufort, turning easterly to northeasterly at 5 Beaufort in the east during early hours. Temperatures range from 20°C to 34–35°C.