Greece issues Red Code for four regions as strong meltemi brings gusts to 129 km/h and temperatures to 35 degrees

Red Code for four regions

Greece's Civil Protection authority placed four regions under Red Code on Sunday, August 16, 2026, citing very high fire risk (category 4): Attica, Central Greece (Voiotia and Evia, including Skyros), the South Aegean (Cyclades), and Crete. The alert comes as a strong meltemi persists across the Aegean, with sustained northern winds reaching 6 to 7 Beaufort and gusts forecast to hit 129 km/h in Western Crete. A sailing ban imposed Saturday morning has been lifted, and ferry routes are operating normally, though winds remain powerful.

Wind conditions and gusts

The ICON-EU forecasting model, cited by meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas, predicts particularly strong gusts across several locations on Sunday: 129 km/h in Western Crete, 113 km/h at the Kafireas Straits, 105 km/h in Southern Crete, and 104 km/h on Tinos. Kolydas noted these are instantaneous surges, not sustained intensity, and should not be directly translated to Beaufort scale values. The strongest gust recorded during the event was 112 km/h on Friday at Paximada Karystou, followed by 106 km/h at Penteli, according to the National Observatory of Athens.

Gradual weakening from Saturday afternoon

Kostas Lagouvardos, meteorologist and research director at the National Observatory of Athens, told the Orange Press Agency that Saturday, August 15, was the last day of very strong winds in the Aegean. He described the system as a very strong meltemi, though not as extreme as the one at the end of July that brought large fires to Crete and eastern Attica. Saturday's gusts reached 90 to 100 km/h in parts of the Cyclades, Tinos, Southern Evia, and south of Crete.

From Saturday afternoon a gradual weakening of the winds will begin. So on Sunday we will have a strong meltemi with 6, locally 7 Beaufort mainly in the Cyclades, and on Monday the winds will be further reduced, reaching 5 to 6 Beaufort locally in the southeastern Aegean, that is, eastern Cyclades, eastern Crete and the Dodecanese. And the first data show us that from Tuesday onwards we will have a significant weakening of the winds and a rise in temperature. Fairly high temperatures at least until the end of next week.

Temperature rise and regional forecast

Temperatures will show a small increase on Sunday, mainly in eastern areas. The Cyclades and Ionian islands will see 29 to 32 degrees Celsius, most of the country 32 to 34 degrees, and locally in the mainland and the Dodecanese up to 35 degrees. In Macedonia and Thrace, temperatures will range from 18 to 34 degrees. The Ionian islands, Epirus, western Sterea, and western Peloponnese will see 21 to 32 degrees, reaching 34 to 35 locally in mainland areas. Thessaly, eastern Sterea, Evia, and eastern Peloponnese will range from 21 to 34 degrees, with eastern Peloponnese hitting 35 locally.

Skies will be generally clear across most of the country. Transient clouds are expected in Crete, mainly in the north, where light local rain is possible. During midday and afternoon hours, clouds will develop over mainland mountains, with local showers in the mountains of Epirus and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.