[REVISION HISTORY]

Greece and Cyprus August 2026 heatwave outlook

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2026-08-21 18:15 UTC → 2026-08-22 02:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The August 2026 heatwave in Greece and Cyprus has triggered severe weather conditions and high wildfire risks, with temperatures approaching 40°C to 42°C and high winds of up to 8 Beaufort. A “Red Code” for wildfire risk was issued across 16 areas, including Attica, Crete, and parts of the Peloponnese and Aegean islands. As of 19 August, meteorologists Theodoros Kolydas and Sakis Arnaoutoglou indicated a major thermal shift driven by a “thermal invasion of warm air masses from North Africa.” This heat episode is projected to last at least seven to eight days, with the most extreme temperatures anticipated between 23 August and 27 August. During this peak, temperatures may reach between 40 and 42°C. Kostas Lagouvardos of the National Observatory of Athens has described the event as an “exhaustive” thermal anomaly, noting that while heat may subside gradually after 26 August, low nighttime cooling will cause significant discomfort. By 20 August, the scope of the extreme weather has extended to Cyprus, where the Department of Meteorology issued a yellow warning for extreme temperatures. Inland Cyprus is expected to see highs around 41°C, while coastal and mountainous regions will experience varying conditions. In Greece, meteorological data from Meteo.gr and the National Observatory of Athens indicate that air masses will be 6 to 8 degrees Celsius warmer than seasonal averages. Temperatures are expected to rise sharply through the weekend of 22–23 ~~August, with some local areas potentially hitting 41°C to 42°C.~~ August. In the Thessaly region, authorities have issued a Category 3 (high) fire risk ~~warning for Saturday.~~ warning, placing emergency services on high alert. NASA has noted that such prolonged heat episodes across Western Europe can lead to significant health risks and increased mortality ~~rates.~~ rates, suggesting such extreme thermal events could be linked to approximately 10,000 additional deaths across the continent.

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