A heatwave with temperatures possibly exceeding 40C is forecast in Greece between Sunday and next Wednesday, according to an extreme weather warning issued by the National Meteorological Service (EMY).
Temperatures will begin climbing on Saturday in the west and north (Macedonia) and in the rest of Greece on Sunday. They are expected to peak at about 40C on Monday, in the interior of mainland Greece and especially in western, central and northern parts of the country.
Coastal areas will remain 2-4C cooler than the interior and humidity will be extremely low, while minimum temperatures will not drop below 26-28C in urban centres.
On Sunday, temperatures will be high in all mainland areas and the Ionian Sea, with maximum temperatures reaching 39-39C in Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus and western Central Greece, between 37-39C on the eastern mainland and the Peloponnese and 35-36C on the Ionian islands.
Monday will see even higher temperatures throughout the country, reaching 39-40C and locally 41C on the mainland and ranging from 36-38C on the Ionian and Aegean islands.
The worst of the heat is expected to start abating in the Ionian and western mainland on Tuesday and Wednesday, while increasing by 1-2C along the eastern mainland and the Aegean. Maximum mainland temperatures may locally climb as high as 41-42C.