Cyclades: meltemia 7 Beaufort and Red Code

Strong northerly winds, known as meltemia, were blowing on Saturday, 5 September 2026, over much of the Aegean, with intensity reaching 7 Beaufort in several areas of the Cyclades. In Mykonos, wind gusts of up to 77.8 kilometres per hour were recorded, according to a record presented by Naxos Times. Meanwhile, the temperature on the island cluster was ranging between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius, while the national weather forecast placed the average temperature in the Cyclades at 29 degrees. The combination of strong wind and high temperatures is a common phenomenon in September in the Aegean, however intensity of 7 Beaufort is considered significant for the season and has direct impact on navigation and the daily life of residents.

On the same day, the Special Civil Protection Mechanism placed the Cyclades under the status of “Red Code”, meaning fire risk category 4, the highest on the scale, for Saturday, 5 September 2026. In the same category were also Attica, Euboea, Crete, Chios and Ikaria, according to an announcement relayed by ERT News. The responsible services of civil protection, firefighting and local government were placed on full alert, while citizens were urged to immediately call 199 if they spotted a fire source. The connection between wind and fire risk is not coincidental: strong winds facilitate the rapid spread of fire, making prompt extinguishing more difficult in forest and semi-mountainous areas.

For the Cyclades, the combination of meltemia and high fire risk has particular importance as these are islands with extensive dry vegetation, limited water resources and significant tourist activity late in summer. Islands such as Mykonos and Santorini still receive substantial visitor numbers in September, a fact that increases the likelihood of human-caused fire, from cigarettes to outdoor fires. At the same time, strong winds affect inter-island shipping routes, as port authorities can prohibit departures of smaller vessels when intensity exceeds the prescribed safety limits. No official announcement on possible departure prohibition has been published so far in the available sources.

Authorities recommend to residents and visitors of the Cyclades to avoid any activity that could cause sparks in outdoor spaces, especially in areas with dry grass, for as long as the Red Code status persists. It has not yet been announced when the intensity of the meltemia is expected to decrease, nor whether the status of increased risk will be extended in the coming days. Visitors planning ship movements are urged to check with port authorities for possible changes to routes. The situation will be monitored in the coming hours, as meteorological services and the civil protection mechanism may update forecasts depending on developments in the weather phenomenon.