Greece Faces Extreme Heat, Orange Alert Issued for Temperatures of Up to 43°C and Peak Wildfire Risk

Greece’s National Meteorological Service has issued an emergency bulletin and activated an orange alert for the severe heatwave expected to sweep across the country on Wednesday, July 22.

Forecasts indicate that temperatures could climb to 43 degrees Celsius in certain areas. At the same time, authorities have raised the alarm over an extreme wildfire risk.

The highest temperatures are expected in Thessaly, eastern Central Greece and the eastern Peloponnese. Temperatures of 41–42°C are forecast in Thessaly, while the mercury could locally reach 43°C. Temperatures in eastern Central Greece will range from 41–42°C, while Attica is expected to record 40–41°C. The eastern Peloponnese will also face temperatures of 41–42°C.

On Wednesday morning, the Meteorological Service will revise the emergency bulletin in line with the latest forecast data.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas said the atmospheric conditions forecast for Wednesday resemble those that prevailed during the Mati wildfire tragedy. He described them as among the most dangerous conditions of the summer.

According to Tournas, extremely high temperatures, prolonged drought and strong westerly and northwesterly winds could cause any fire to spread rapidly. This combination is expected to make intervention significantly more difficult from the outset.

The warning came after an emergency meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee and the Civil Protection Coordinating Body. The meeting resulted in the entire state apparatus being placed on the highest level of readiness.

The Fire Risk Forecast Map places a large part of Greece at Level 4, classified as very high. This category includes Central Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Sterea, Evia, the northern, eastern and southern areas of the Peloponnese, and Rhodes. Meanwhile, Phthiotis, Lamia, Almyros, Eastern Sterea, Attica, Argolis and Corinth have been placed in Category 5, the highest alert level.

Citizens have been urged to exercise extreme caution, refrain from activities that could start fires and follow Civil Protection instructions. Authorities stress that the forecast weather could turn any incident into an extremely dangerous situation.

The effects of the heatwave have already begun to be felt. On Tuesday, July 21, Olenis in Ilia recorded Greece’s highest temperature, at 41.4°C. Data from the National Observatory of Athens (meteo.gr) show that temperatures exceeded 40°C at 17 weather stations, while 157 stations recorded temperatures above 37°C.