August 2024 was the hottest since 2010 for Northern and Western Greece, the Ionian Islands, and the Peloponnese, with average temperatures soaring up to 1.8°C above seasonal norms, according to data from the National Observatory of Athens (NOAA).
While the rest of Greece experienced the second warmest August since 2010—except Thessaly, where it was the third warmest—the month stood out for its relentless heat. The average temperature across Northern and Western Greece was nearly 1°C higher than the second-hottest August on record (2021), with continuous positive temperature deviations ranging from 6°C to 8°C above normal.
In Athens, 25 of the 31 days in August were hotter than usual, with the average monthly maximum temperature exceeding the norm by 1.2°C. Similarly, in Thessaloniki, 24 days saw temperatures above the 2010-2019 average, with a deviation of +1.1°C. Across the country, 60% of NOAA’s meteorological stations reported that at least 25 days in August were warmer than the seasonal average.
In contrast, the Aegean islands and Crete saw small negative deviations, influenced by prevailing meltemi winds, which provided some relief from the extreme heat experienced elsewhere.