Expert meteorologists Theodoros Kolydas and Klearchos Marousakis report that Greece is currently experiencing a brief lull in wind activity and a slight increase in temperatures. However, this calmness is expected to change soon. As the weekend approaches, a significant atmospheric disturbance will bring cooler temperatures, stronger winds, and greater instability to much of the mainland.
Short-Term Forecast: Warming Phase Followed by Weather Shift
- Theodoros Kolydas, former head of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), indicates that winds will gradually calm through midweek, with temperatures inching up slightly. However, a resurgence of stronger winds is anticipated by the weekend, coupled with a temperature drop of about 3°C.
- Kolydas emphasizes that atmospheric instability will increase starting Friday, particularly in inland areas, with light rain expected to persist into Saturday.
Marousakis: Peak Heatwave Followed by Cold Air Mass
- Klearchos Marousakis notes that Thursday and Friday will signal the height of the current heatwave, soon to be followed by a swift transformation in weather as a cut-off cold low—a mass of colder air rising—moves from central Europe toward the central Mediterranean.
- This “cold lake” forming over Italy will disrupt prevailing atmospheric patterns and channel cool air masses southward, resulting in unstable weather conditions, scattered storms, and a return to seasonal or cooler-than-normal temperatures by the weekend.
High Fire Risk Alert for 13 Areas
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a Category 3 (high) fire risk warning for Tuesday, June 17, affecting the following regions:
- Attica, southern Evia, Argolida, parts of Corinthia
- Crete, Karpathos, Kassos, Cyclades
- Lesvos, Chios, Psara, Samos, Ikaria
➡️ For the complete Fire Risk Forecast Map, visit civilprotection.gov.gr.
Wind Patterns Visible from Space
Recent Sentinel-3 satellite images from June 15, 2025, showcase the striking influence of strong northerly winds (meltemi) across the eastern Aegean. Wind gusts reached over 80 km/h, creating distinctive patterns on the water’s surface. These images, enhanced by the METEO unit of the National Observatory of Athens, highlight the importance of satellite technology for real-time monitoring of impactful weather systems.
Daily Weather Forecast
Tuesday, June 17
- Weather: Mostly clear with a few afternoon clouds and isolated thunderstorms over the Pindos mountain range, Thessaly, and the Peloponnese.
- Temperature: Highs of 34–36°C in Thessaly; cooler conditions in the Ionian and Aegean Islands.
- Winds: Northerly in the Aegean (up to 6 Beaufort); west-northwest in the Ionian (4 Beaufort).
Wednesday, June 18
- Conditions: Partly cloudy in western and northern mainland; scattered rain in Epirus and Western Macedonia.
- Winds: Northerly winds in the Aegean (up to 6 Beaufort).
- Temperature: Slight rise, with mainland highs reaching 35°C.
Thursday, June 19
- Weather: Predominantly clear, with isolated afternoon storms in northern mountainous areas.
- Winds: Westerlies in the west, northerlies in the east and Aegean.
- Temperature: Another slight increase expected.
Friday, June 20
- Conditions: Afternoon storms likely in mainland Greece and Evia, particularly in higher elevations.
- Winds: Variable inland; northerly winds reaching 5 Beaufort in the Aegean.
- Temperature: Stable overall.
Saturday, June 21
- Weather: Localized thunderstorms expected in Central Macedonia and Thessaly, with clearer skies elsewhere and isolated showers in the mountains.
- Winds: Strengthening northerlies, peaking at 6 Beaufort in the Aegean.
- Temperature: Slight decrease, particularly in the north.
Final Thoughts
This week will showcase a transitional weather pattern: initial warm conditions will shift to significant volatility by the weekend due to an upper-level trough. Residents and visitors are advised to stay alert to changing conditions, especially in fire-prone and mountainous regions.
For ongoing updates, follow @KolydasT, @klearchosweather, and @meteo_gr on social media, or check the HNMS and Civil Protection Authority websites.
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