A prolonged period of very high temperatures and the absence of noteworthy rainfall are expected this July, the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr said on Tuesday.

The cause of the prolonged heatwaves in Greece, it said, is the unusual atmospheric circulation or air movement over Europe. Deep depressions - areas of low pressure - are affecting Western Europe while favoring the transport of warm air masses from Africa to Greece.

A characteristic feature of the next few days will be that the maximum daily temperature will exceed 38 to 40 degrees Celsius in many regions of Greece daily, reaching levels 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above the normal values for the season.