Greece places six regions under Red Code fire alert as 8 Beaufort winds and heat forecast for Sunday 9 August

Red Code across six regions

Greece's General Secretariat for Civil Protection will place six regions under Red Code on Sunday 9 August 2026, forecasting very high fire danger (category 4) across roughly two-thirds of the country. The affected areas are the Region of Attica (including the island of Kythira), the regional units of Corinthia, Argolida, Arcadia and Laconia in the Peloponnese, the entire Region of Crete, the regional units of Viotia, Fthiotida and Evia in Central Greece, the regional units of Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria in the North Aegean, and the Cyclades in the South Aegean. Under Red Code, the national civil protection mechanism moves to full mobilisation, deploying personnel, equipment and resources for readiness against imminent risk.

Dangerous weather cocktail

The alert is driven by a combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong northern winds. Meteorologists expect winds of up to 8 Beaufort in Evia, Attica, the Cyclades and Crete, with gusts reaching 80 km/h. The wind alert remains in effect through Monday 10 August. Meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas notes that a gradual strengthening of northern winds in the Aegean will make the flow more organised and persistent over the coming days.

Kolydas states that from Sunday 9 August and especially Monday 10 August, the northern flow will cover a large part of the Aegean. In the central and northern sections, the Cyclades and the passages toward Crete, an extensive zone of 5 to 6 Beaufort is expected, with local intensities approaching 7 Beaufort. Particularly strengthened winds are expected at Kafireas, the Andros-Tinos area, the central Aegean and the Ikaria region. In the Ionian Sea, conditions are expected to be milder, with generally lower wind intensities.

Attica under continued alert

Attica has been under Red Code since the fire of 31 July 2026, due to a serious probability of rekindling with potentially catastrophic consequences in the affected areas. The Municipality of Athens is activating its civil protection plan, while the Fire Service is strengthening its operational readiness and appealing to citizens to avoid any outdoor activity that could cause a fire. Finopoulos Hill is being closed as a precautionary measure.

Public warnings and restrictions

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection urges citizens to be especially careful and to avoid actions in the countryside that could ignite fires through negligence, such as burning dry grass and branches, using spark-producing machinery like circular saws and welding equipment, using outdoor grills, bee smoking, and discarding lit cigarettes. Burning of fields is prohibited during the anti-fire period. Citizens who spot a fire are asked to immediately notify the Fire Service at the emergency number 199. Municipalities and regions in the Red Code areas are called to convene their local and regional operational coordination bodies for civil protection to address readiness and wildfire response.

Meltemi to persist

The meltemi winds are expected to continue until at least 15 August, prolonging the period of elevated fire risk. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecasts generally clear skies for Sunday, with temporary clouds over the mainland during the afternoon and evening, bringing local rain or hail mainly in mountainous areas. Isolated thunderstorms are expected in the north, primarily in mountainous regions and possibly in the western mountains. Winds will blow from northern directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, and at 6 to 7 Beaufort in the Aegean.