Attica: the mercury at 38 degrees over the weekend

From Thursday 20 August 2026 Attica enters a prolonged hot spell which, according to the forecast of meteorologist Giorgos Emmanouil, is expected to prove the strongest of this summer. In the Athens basin the temperature reaches 36 degrees Celsius today, with sunshine and generally light winds, while in the east of the prefecture the winds will be stronger and may reach 5 on the Beaufort scale. The rise will continue on Friday 21 August, with 36 to 37 degrees, and will peak over the weekend of 22 and 23 August, when the mercury is expected to touch 38 degrees.

This picture is part of a broader heatwave covering the whole country. On Thursday the maximum values range from 36 to 37 degrees in eastern mainland Greece and locally up to 38 in the west, with the highest temperatures recorded in areas such as Agrinio, Messolonghi, Arta, Kalamata and Pyrgos in Ilia. On Friday the mainland is expected to reach 38 degrees, while on Saturday and Sunday 38 to 39 degrees are forecast in many areas and locally up to 40. At the same time, the northerly winds in the Aegean strengthen from Friday and locally reach 6 Beaufort, gradually dispersing the sea fog that in previous days had created conditions of limited visibility in island and coastal areas.

For Attica the difference between neighbourhoods is expected to be noticeable. The highest values are forecast in the interior of the basin, where the sea breeze does not reach, that is in the western and northern suburbs and in the densely built areas of the centre, while the seaside municipalities will record milder maximums. The prolonged heat has a second dimension for the prefecture: dry vegetation and high temperatures keep the risk of fire elevated, in a period during which Attica has already repeatedly found itself in a high risk category and has counted serious damage, as in Salamina. In the central and northern mountains of the country there is a chance of local rain during the hot hours, though the phenomena are not expected to be intense or long-lasting.

The heat is not forecast to ease immediately after the weekend. On the basis of the available forecasting data, the high temperatures will persist for several days, with the hot spell possibly lasting around a week or more. Forecasts of this range carry uncertainty and are usually revised as the peak of the phenomenon approaches, particularly as to the exact level of the maximum values. For the residents of Attica the practical question of the coming days concerns the operation of the municipalities’ air-conditioned spaces, the strain on the electricity network at peak hours and the protection of the elderly and of people working outdoors. Official guidance is expected to be updated by the competent services if the temperature confirms the forecasts.