Greece braces for 39°C heat and meltemi winds as Red Code issued for Crete and Aegean islands

Temperature rise across Greece

Greece will see a slight rise in temperatures on Saturday, 8 August 2026, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), with the mercury reaching 35-37°C across the country and climbing to 38-39°C locally in continental areas. The Cyclades will experience cooler conditions at 30-31°C, while Crete will see highs up to 33°C, with southern Crete reaching 35-36°C locally. In Attica, temperatures will range from 26 to 37°C, while Thessaloniki will see 23 to 36-37°C. Central Macedonia will record the highest values nationwide, with locally 38-39°C, and western Macedonia will see minimums 2-3 degrees lower than the regional baseline. The eastern Aegean islands and Dodecanese will see temperatures from 24 to 35-36°C.

Regional forecast details

The Ionian islands, Epirus, western Sterea Hellas, and western Peloponnese will see generally clear skies with temperatures from 22 to 37°C, reaching 38-39°C locally in continental parts. Winds will be variable at 3-4 Beaufort, turning northwesterly up to 5 Beaufort in the Ionian during the afternoon. Thessaly, eastern Sterea Hellas, Euboea, and eastern Peloponnese will see temperatures from 23 to 37°C, with 38°C locally in continental areas. Northern winds of 3-5 Beaufort will prevail, locally reaching 6 Beaufort in eastern parts during the afternoon. Macedonia and Thrace will see generally clear weather with temperatures from 22 to 37°C, and central Macedonia locally hitting 38-39°C. Winds from northern directions at 3-4 Beaufort will reach up to 5 Beaufort locally in eastern areas during the evening. The Cyclades and Crete will see clear skies throughout the day, with Cyclades temperatures from 24°C up to 30-31°C and Crete up to 33°C, with southern Crete locally reaching 35-36°C. The eastern Aegean islands and Dodecanese will see clear skies with temperatures from 24 to 35-36°C.

Wind conditions and meltemi

Northern winds will prevail across Greece at 3-5 Beaufort, strengthening to 5-6 in the Aegean and locally reaching 7 Beaufort in eastern areas from midday. The Cyclades and Crete will see northern winds of 5-6 Beaufort, with local gusts of 7 Beaufort in eastern sections from noon. The eastern Aegean islands and Dodecanese will experience north-northwesterly winds of 5-6 Beaufort. Attica will see northern winds at 3-5 Beaufort, while Thessaloniki will have variable winds at 3-4 Beaufort. The Ionian will see variable winds at 3-4 Beaufort, turning northwesterly up to 5 Beaufort in the afternoon. In Thessaly, eastern Sterea Hellas, Euboea, and eastern Peloponnese, northern winds of 3-5 Beaufort will locally reach 6 Beaufort in eastern parts during the afternoon.

Red Code alerts

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection has placed the Region of Crete and the regional units of Chios, Samos, and Ikaria, part of the North Aegean Region, under Red Code mobilization status for Saturday, 8 August 2026. The alert covers areas where strong meltemi winds and high temperatures combine to elevate fire risk.

Afternoon clouds and isolated storms

During the midday and afternoon hours over continental areas, temporary clouds will develop, bringing local showers and possibly isolated storms in the western and northern mountains. Conditions will remain clear across the islands throughout the day. The weather will be generally clear across all of Greece, with cloud development limited to the mountainous inland areas of the mainland during the peak afternoon hours. In Attica and Thessaloniki, skies will remain clear, with only the mountains surrounding Thessaloniki seeing a chance of local showers.