Weather 1/9: 37°C and high fire risk

September 2026 began with summery temperatures across the country, with the mercury reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius on Tuesday 1 September, according to the National Weather Service (EMY), as reported by ERT. Along with the high temperatures, northerly winds are gradually strengthening, creating weather conditions that feel more like summer than autumn beginning, in a year where September’s ‘kickoff,’ as ERT characterizes it, does not bring substantial temperature drops.

In Attica, temperatures will range from 26 to 36 degrees, with sunshine and occasional clouds at midday in western and northern areas, local showers in highlands and winds of 2 to 5 Beaufort from northerly directions, according to ERT. In Crete and the Cyclades maximum temperatures will be between 22 and 32 degrees, with local 34 to 35 degrees in southern Crete, while winds will blow from westerly to northwesterly directions with intensity 4 to 5 Beaufort. The variation between regions, with stronger winds in the islands and steadier heat in inland areas, is characteristic for the period and directly affects fire risk assessment.

These conditions led the General Secretariat for Civil Protection to rank Attica, Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese in category 3 (high risk) of the fire risk forecast map for Tuesday 1 September, according to Eleftheros Typos and CNN Greece. In these areas, burning restrictions apply, while firefighting patrols intensify in forest and forest-adjacent zones. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strengthened winds is considered by authorities the main factor increasing the likelihood of fire occurrence and rapid spread. Residents and visitors in Attica, Crete and the Cyclades are urged to avoid any activity that may cause ignition, especially in forest and agricultural areas, while in case of emergency the Fire Service is available at 199.

The combined picture of high temperatures, strengthened winds and prolonged drought maintains heightened vigilance by civil protection authorities across the country, as these conditions can facilitate rapid fire spread even in areas not affected during the summer. Weather services will monitor wind patterns over the coming days, while it is expected to become clear whether the high fire risk category 3 will be maintained in the coming days of September for the four regions on alert, namely Attica, Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.