Weather Saturday 12/9: dust and up to 37°C

The National Meteorological Service (EMY) forecasts local rain and thunderstorms mainly in central and northern Greece for Saturday 12 September 2026, in combination with the continued transport of African dust over the country, according to a report by newsit.gr based on the EMY bulletin and data from meteo.gr. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 37 degrees Celsius in the plains of Thessaly, while in other areas of central and southern Greece values will range between 34 and 36 degrees. Winds will blow from the northwest, with force 4 to 5 Beaufort in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, while in certain inland areas the atmosphere is expected to remain relatively calm during the early morning hours. In western and mountainous parts of the country, local cloud cover with occasional rain is not ruled out, though no widespread weather deterioration is expected at the national level.

The phenomenon of African dust has appeared repeatedly in recent weeks over Greece, accompanying periods of high temperatures for the season. According to the report, the simultaneous presence of dust, high temperatures and local thunderstorms on Saturday 12 September creates an unusual weather scenario for mid-September, with sharp contrasts between areas that will remain under heat waves and others that will experience rainfall on the same day. The forecast, as reported, does not include the issuance of an emergency bulletin or coded warning, but describes expected conditions as intense weather variability over a short time span, with clear differences between morning and afternoon hours of the same day, something that is often observed during the transition from summer to autumn, when warm air masses from the south meet more unstable conditions coming from further north.

The combination of African dust with heat can in practice reduce visibility in several areas, especially those located closer to points of greater particle concentration, while local thunderstorms after a hot day carry the risk of sudden and intense rainfall over a short time span, with potential problems on roads and underpasses, especially in urban areas where the road network struggles to absorb large amounts of rain in a short period. It is recommended that people with respiratory problems limit prolonged exposure to outdoor spaces during peak dust hours, while strong winds in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, with force up to 5 Beaufort, may affect sea transport on open routes between islands, which may also affect ferry routes of the period.

The meteorological services are expected to update their forecasts in the coming days, as conditions in recent weeks show frequent changes, as well as the temperature drop with northerly winds that was recorded on Wednesday 9 September. In parallel, high temperatures maintain increased fire risk in several areas of the country, as recently recorded by the fire risk map for Saturday 12/9. Newsit.gr notes that the EMY bulletin will be updated daily, while monitoring of official announcements is recommended for any changes to the forecast in the coming hours, especially in areas that may be affected by local thunderstorms.