“Explosive cocktail” in Greece: Heatwave and northern winds

Greek meteorologists warn of a heatwave with temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius and northern summer winds (meltemia) that increase the risk of wildfires.

Meteorologists sound alert and speak of an “explosive cocktail.”

Although several areas of central and northern Europe have already been faced with particularly intense heat waves, Greece has not recorded such high temperatures to date in summer 2026. This is expected to change in the coming days, as the warm invasion will affect the country.

Temperature has already been on the rise, and is forecast to reach 40°C in several parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, July 19-20, 2026.

The warm air mass will remain in central and southern Greece, creating high temperature conditions and increased fire risk due to meltemia winds.

A drop in temperature is expected from Tuesday, July 21, initially in northern Greece and gradually towards the south, with Athens and the east still holding heat.

Meteorologists warn of increased caution due to the heatwave and strong winds that increase the risk of forest fires starting and spreading.

🎯Η εικόνα που προκύπτει τόσο από τους χάρτες της θερμοκρασίας στα 850 hPa όσο και από τα ensemble μετεωγράμματα των πόλεων είναι αρκετά σαφής: η θερμή μεταφορά ενισχύεται σταδιακά και κορυφώνεται μέσα στο διήμερο Κυριακής–Δευτέρας, το οποίο φαίνεται να αποτελεί το δυσκολότερο… pic.twitter.com/E3hfkESiuE

— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) July 16, 2026

According to meteorologist and former director of the National  Meteorological Service (EMY), Thodoris Kolidas, the coming days will be characterized by very high temperatures, with the heat wave gradually intensifying and reaching its maximum level on Monday.

The warm air mass remains established over central and southern Greece, with the highest values ​​at 850 hPa mainly affecting the mainland. This fact, combined with the intense sunshine and the weaker winds inland, creates the conditions for very high maximum temperatures.

Sunday and especially Monday appear as the days with the greatest thermal load, without excluding local values ​​close to or even above 40°C in the most vulnerable lowland areas.

The meteograms of Athens, Lamia (central Greece), Thessaloniki and Tripoli (central Peloponnese) confirm this picture. The maximum temperature curves rise until Sunday and Monday, while from Tuesday a clear downward trend begins to appear.

From Tuesday to Wednesday the decline becomes more noticeable, as colder air masses move from the northwest towards our region.

The drop will not occur everywhere at the same time. It will first be felt in northern Greece and then expand further south, Kolidas noted.

More indicative maps in meteo.gr