Greek Weather Update: Rain Fades, Heat Returns with 40°C

Following intense storms and record-breaking rainfall in central Athens—the highest since last February—Greece is set for a shift back to scorching summer conditions.

According to meteorologist Sakis Arnaoutoglou, the unsettled weather will subside starting Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with temperatures gradually climbing. By Friday, expect highs reaching 40°C in some lowland areas, potentially marking the final heatwave of this summer.

Today’s Forecast: Clear Skies and Rising Temperatures

The National Meteorological Service (EMY) reports mostly clear skies across Greece today, with temporary clouds in the afternoon over mainland areas. Local showers are possible in eastern Sterea, Thessaly, central and eastern Macedonia, and Thrace. Winds will blow from the north-northwest at 3 to 5 Beaufort, reaching up to 6 in the eastern Aegean and 7 in southern Dodecanese. Temperatures will rise slightly, hitting 30–33°C across most regions, with mainland areas seeing up to 35°C locally.

Regional Breakdown

• Attica: Mostly clear with brief afternoon clouds. North winds at 3–4 Beaufort, turning variable by afternoon. Temperatures: 20–33°C.
• Thessaloniki: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in nearby mountains during the afternoon. Variable winds at 3–4 Beaufort. Temperatures: 19–31°C.
• Macedonia & Thrace: Scattered clouds with possible showers in central and eastern areas. Winds variable at 3–4 Beaufort, up to 5 in the east. Temperatures: 15–33°C.
• Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Sterea, Western Peloponnese: Mostly clear with afternoon clouds over mainland areas. Northwest winds at 3–5 Beaufort. Temperatures: 19–35°C.
• Thessaly, Eastern Sterea, Evia, Eastern Peloponnese: Clear skies with a chance of showers in Thessaly and mountainous areas. North winds at 3–4 Beaufort, turning variable. Temperatures: 20–35°C.
• Cyclades & Crete: Mostly clear. North-northwest winds at 4–6 Beaufort. Temperatures: 19–34°C.
• Eastern Aegean & Dodecanese: Clear skies. North-northwest winds at 5–7 Beaufort. Temperatures: 22–33°C.

Weekend Outlook

• Thursday, August 21: Mostly clear with a slight temperature rise, reaching 34–37°C on the mainland and 33–35°C in island regions. Winds will shift to westerly at 3–4 Beaufort in the west and remain north-northwest at 3–6 in the Aegean.
• Friday, August 22: Partly cloudy in the west and north with scattered showers in northern Ionian, Epirus, and western Macedonia. Elsewhere, clear skies prevail. Temperatures in eastern Sterea and Peloponnese may hit 38–40°C. Winds will turn southerly in the north and west at 3–4 Beaufort, while westerly winds of 4–6 Beaufort dominate elsewhere.
• Saturday, August 23: Mostly clear with temporary clouds and possible showers in central and northern mainland areas. Morning fog may reduce visibility in the west. Winds will be west-northwest at 3–6 Beaufort. Temperatures will dip slightly.
• Sunday, August 24: Scattered clouds in the north with local showers, while the rest of the country sees mostly clear skies with afternoon showers in mountainous mainland areas. North-northwest winds at 3–6 Beaufort. Temperatures will drop further.

As Greece transitions from stormy weather to intense heat, residents and visitors should prepare for hot conditions, especially in lowland areas, before a slight cooldown arrives by the weekend.