European heat waves

The month of July 2023 was the hottest in central Athens since 1863, according to the records of the National Observatory.

The average 24-hour temperature in July this year was 31.3 degrees Celsius (88.34 Fahrenheit), the highest ever recorded at the observatory. This was followed by July 2012, when the average was 31.1 Celsius, and July 2007, when it was 30.6C.

With temperatures rising and heatwaves gripping Türkiye along the rest of the world, the environment minister has warned citizens to exercise caution against extreme heat, especially during the hottest hours of the day, after the weather bureau revealed its weekly forecast.

The 15-day heat wave that ended on Wednesday evening, July 26, was the longest one recorded in the country, the National Observatory of Athens' weather service Meteo.gr has said.

The heat wave comprised three phases: from July 12 to 15, from July 18 to 23 and from July 23 to 26.

Temperatures receded slightly on Monday but areas in Greece remained in the midst of a heatwave with high temperatures in several regions of the country. According to automated weather stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens and meteo.gr, 32 of these stations recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.

A new maximum temperature record in Greece was registered on Sunday, according to measurements from the automatic meteorological stations of the National Observatory of Athens.

The heat wave threatens human health and makes the terrain suitable for fires.
Last week's heat wave named Kerber is followed by a new one that Italian forecasters named Charon, after the ferryman of Hades from Greek mythology who transports souls to the underworld.

The World Meteorological Organization said on Monday that a heatwave affecting the Mediterranean is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August in some places.

New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the UN agency's website said.

Greece is bracing for its first heatwave which is forecast to hit the country in the middle of next week, as hot air from North Africa will start affecting temperatures from Wednesday, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in some regions of the country.