Weather Forecast: After the Heatwave, Dangerous Thunderstorms with Lightning – First Heatwave Expected by Tuesday

The weather on Friday, June 19, 2025, will be exceptionally hot, with temperatures reaching up to 38°C. However, a significant drop in temperature is expected afterward. Meteorologist George Tsatrakyllias warns that the first heatwave of the season could hit as early as Tuesday. He notes that Friday’s weather will be particularly warm due to a ‘heatwave sweeping through the country,’ with thermometers hitting 37-38°C in the Thessalian plain and 35°C in several mainland areas (central Attica, Thessaloniki), Crete, and the Dodecanese islands. Following this, intense instability with hail and lightning is anticipated, as cold air in the upper atmosphere combines with heat closer to the ground, creating ideal conditions for severe thunderstorms during the Friday-Saturday period, especially in the afternoons. Particularly on Saturday morning, storms are expected in Halkidiki, Magnesia, Sporades, northern Evia, Sterea (including Attica), Epirus, Ionian Islands, and the Peloponnese. These storms may bring dangerous lightning activity, posing risks not only for forest fires but also for people outdoors. Tsatrakyllias advises caution. Temperatures from Saturday to Tuesday are expected to drop by 4-5°C, though he does not rule out the possibility of the first summer heatwave emerging afterward.