Temperatures will reach 40C on Saturday across Greece

Temperatures in Greece are forecast to increase until Saturday, 5 August, when the maximum temperatures are predicted to peak above 40C, according to the latest forecast data released by the National Observatory of Athens weather service METEO.

From Saturday afternoon, however, an atmospheric disturbance is forecast to bring colder aerial masses affecting the weather in the northwest and later the north of mainland Greece, bringing local showers and storms.

At the same time, northerly winds will become more robust, and temperatures will drop, which will be mostly felt from Sunday.

Wildfires in Greece finally abated last week after burning for nearly two weeks, though firefighters remained stationed to respond to flare-ups.

The famous island destination of Rhodes was worst affected by the fires. Over 20,000 tourists and locals were forced to flee seaside hotels and houses, and around 10 per cent of the island was scorched.

Large fires have also been brought under control on the islands of Corfu and Evia and the mainland. The blazes have had an enormous effect on Greece’s vital tourism industry. “It’s raining cancellations,” said vice-president of the Greek Tourism Confederation, Panagiotis Tokouzis, last week.

Greece’s climate change minister, Vassilis Kikilias, said 667 fires erupted across the country, most of which “were caused by human hands”. He called the fires “arsons either by criminal negligence or intention”.

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