Greece is in the grip of an exceptionally powerful meltemi, with Attica bearing the brunt of the storm. North-easterly gusts have exceeded 100 km/h across much of the region, peaking at around 150 km/h on the summit of Mount Pendeli.
The National Observatory of Athens’ network of automatic weather stations recorded the highest reading of approximately 150 km/h at the top of Pendeli by 09:30 on Friday. In lower-lying and more densely populated areas, winds still reached dangerous levels well above 100 km/h.
Kostas Lagouvardos, Research Director at the National Observatory of Athens, described the event as “a meltemi of extreme intensity.” He noted that gusts exceeding 120 km/h had been recorded repeatedly across different parts of the country in recent days.
Dangerous conditions on the ground
Friday proved particularly severe for Attica. The fierce north-easterly winds have made driving hazardous, especially for motorcyclists, and have the potential to snap tree branches, tear down awnings, advertising structures and loose items from balconies.
The greatest concern remains wildfire risk. Under such conditions even a small blaze can spread across large areas within minutes. Wind direction can shift abruptly, complicating or temporarily grounding firefighting aircraft.
Residents are advised to clear balconies and terraces of anything that could become airborne, avoid any outdoor burning and report smoke or the smell of burning immediately to the fire service. Motorcyclists and scooter riders should exercise particular caution on exposed roads and bridges where crosswinds are strongest.
Wider impact across the Aegean
Extreme winds are not confined to the capital region. Gusts above 100 km/h have been recorded on Crete, while strong conditions persist on Evia and the Cyclades. Ferry services across the Aegean may face delays or cancellations. Passengers planning island travel are urged to check port authority and shipping company announcements before setting out.
Small craft, pleasure boats and those taking part in water sports are also at risk; venturing out in these conditions, even close to shore, can be dangerous.
When the winds will ease
According to Lagouvardos, the intense wind regime is expected to continue at least until the morning of Saturday 1 August. Gradual easing should begin then, though many areas will still experience winds of force 6–7 on the Beaufort scale. More noticeable improvement is forecast for the second half of Saturday, with conditions becoming calmer on Sunday, although northerly winds will not disappear entirely from the Aegean.
Importantly, weaker winds will not bring an immediate reduction in fire danger. After several days of strong meltemi the vegetation remains extremely dry, and any new outbreak could quickly become difficult to control.
Heat to follow
Once the winds subside, Greece faces a spell of high temperatures. Preliminary forecasts indicate that several parts of the country will see daytime highs of 38–39°C for a number of consecutive days next week. While meteorologists are not currently expecting heat on the scale of recent extreme European heatwaves, prolonged high temperatures will further dry out soil, scrub and forest litter.
Combined with the typical August meltemi, this creates a particularly unfavourable fire environment. Even if winds ease temporarily, the overall risk is expected to remain elevated in the coming days.
Why this meltemi is different
The meltemi is a familiar summer northerly wind across the Aegean, often bringing drier air and some relief from the heat. When gusts regularly exceed 100–120 km/h, however, it becomes a hazardous weather episode rather than a seasonal breeze.
The 150 km/h reading on Mount Pendeli is especially significant. Mountainous terrain can accelerate the airflow, so such speeds were not experienced everywhere in Athens. Nevertheless, the figure illustrates the sheer power of the air mass currently affecting Attica.
The real danger lies not in the name of the weather system but in the combination of extreme gusts, parched vegetation and the presence of multiple fire outbreaks that become extremely difficult to contain under these conditions.
In summary, the extreme meltemi is expected to retain its dangerous strength until the first half of Saturday. Gusts have already exceeded 100 km/h across much of Attica and reached 150 km/h on Pendeli. Winds should begin to ease on 1 August, but the combination of dry vegetation and the heat that follows will keep fire risk high.
Source: National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr