Gale‑force winds sweep Greece as temperatures soar to 36 °C

A widespread weather system brought hot, dry conditions and exceptionally strong north‑northeast winds to Greece on Sunday 28 June 2026. Temperatures reached 33‑36 °C on the islands and the eastern mainland, with local maxima of 36 °C in the western mainland and up to 37 °C forecast for the following days. Scattered showers developed in the north‑west mainland and Crete, but the dominant feature was the wind.

Wind speeds hit gale force across the country, with the National Observatory of Athens recording 124 km/h (8 bft) on the summit of Penteli – the strongest gust recorded nationwide. Other high‑speed reports included 111 km/h on the Paxiada of Karystos, 105 km/h on Chios, and 101 km/h at the Geraki station in Laconia. In Athens the winds caused a large tree trunk to collapse onto a vehicle on Michalacopoulou Street, injuring the driver, and a falling wall section blocked Ergotiou Avenue in Pangrati.

Authorities warned residents to avoid large trees and old structures, as the strong winds increased the risk of fires and further damage. The meteorological service continued to issue alerts for gusts of up to 8 bft in the Aegean and the northern mainland for the next several days.