The country has been experiencing very high temperatures for the past 4 days, with the thermometer hitting “red” reaching 42, 43 and even 44 degrees Celsius in some areas due to the “advancement” of the heatwave called “Kleon”.

According to a network of automatic weather stations of the National Observatory of Athens/Meteo.gr, the maximum temperatures yesterday fluctuated at very high levels, exceeding 40 degrees in many areas. Eighty-seven weather stations recorded highs above 40 degrees, of which 14 recorded highs above 42 degrees Celsius. The absolute maximum temperature was recorded in Thebes and was equal to 44.2 degrees Celsius.

As explained to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency by the appointed researcher of the Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development (IEPBA) and member of the METEO/National Observatory of Athens unit Thodoris Giannaros, since yesterday and today Greece is at the peak of this heat wave. “The data we currently have at our disposal show that on Sunday there will be a slight decrease in temperature, which will mainly concern the northern country and the eastern continental regions, including Attica, and this is because the northerly winds will strengthen above the Aegean, that is, the meltemi. However, in Western Greece the high temperatures will persist on Sunday as well, in the 40s. In the rest of the country we will drop 2-3 degrees, we will be marginally below 40 degrees Celsius. With the data we have at our disposal, it seems that we will definitely go this way until the middle of next week, but it appears with a caveat that from July 20-21 onwards we will have a rise in the temperature again to the level of a heat wave”, he says characteristically.

Regarding forest fires, the risk of their occurrence is already high and according to Mr. Giannaros, this is due to the hot and dry conditions prevailing in the greater part of our country. “From the network of stations we have and can measure key pyrometeorological variables, what we see is that day by day the flammability, i.e. how easily forest fuels can catch fire, sustain it and be able to spread it, support its spread is already too high. As you understand, as long as these temperatures are maintained, the risk rises very high”, he emphasizes.

It is noteworthy that the flammability of these forest fuels remains at high levels even during the night hours, when the temperature typically drops and the humidity rises, which according to Mr. Giannaros affects the basic fuels and makes them less vulnerable to fire. “However, what we are seeing forecasting and with the persistence of these warm and dry conditions is that flammability will remain high overnight as well. This means that if a forest fire were to occur, controlling it, which under other circumstances would have been easier at night, will no longer be so easy, there will be an increased degree of difficulty”, notes Mr. Giannaros to APE-MPE.

According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map of the general secretariat of Civil Protection for today, Saturday 15 July 2023, a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted for the following areas:

· Region of Attica

· Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia)

· Peloponnese Region (Corinthia Region, Argolis Region)

· South Aegean Region (Rhodes Region)

· North Aegean Region (Chios Region, Samos Region, Ikaria Region)

What is worrying, however, is the type of weather prevailing which according to Mr. Giannaros is “hot dry windy”. “Essentially we have the combination of warm – dry weather together with the wind. I don’t dwell too much on the wind because remember in 2021 we had the big fires with light winds. It is not necessary to have wind. However, when we also have the wind, the fire-meteorological environment is even more burdened”, Mr. Giannaros points out and adds that what we can do is to avoid any activity that could lead to a fire. “Such activities are doing a barbecue outside, doing work with tools such as a wheel, we don’t even discuss burning branches on plots of land or grass and of course those who smoke, be careful, don’t throw the cigarette out,” Mr. Yannaros.

Where are the highest temperatures recorded?

According to Mr. Giannaros, the highest temperatures are traditionally recorded in the so-called closed plains and plains, such as the plain of Thessaly. “I would possibly also include the plain of Axiustis, Thessaloniki, in southern Crete as well, in the prefecture of Heraklion we expect particularly high temperatures. From Sunday we expect the strengthening of the wind, which will burden the fire-meteorological conditions even more”, he notes.

What is worrying, however, is the duration of this heatwave as although the temperature will drop, it will remain at high values, at 37 and 38 degrees Celsius. “We will not stay in the 40s, but we will be 37, 38 and all this burdens both people’s health and the environment due to forest fires. The temperature drop we will have will be 2-3 degrees, meaning areas in the eastern mainland will reach highs above 37 degrees, 38 and 39. We don’t think they are at heatwave levels but they are coming from a 2-3 day period with 40 coins. We will continue to be after 38 and 39. All this burdens both the human body and the pyrometeorological conditions”, he emphasizes.

Regarding how the summer will develop in terms of temperatures, Mr. Giannaros points out that taking into account medium and long-term forecasts, which are characterized by a large degree of uncertainty even with a lot of reservation, it seems that the warm conditions will generally remain. “It looks like we’re generally going into the end of July with high temperatures for the season,” he explains.

According to Mr. Giannaros we already have a warmer climate with prolonged heat waves becoming more and more frequent. “We are already in a warmer climate and it is very important to understand that. Heat episodes like this one cannot be directly linked to climate change alone. What we don’t have and it’s starting to show now – and in 2021 it showed with the 2 almost ten-day heatwaves – is that these heatwaves are occurring more and more often, we can have 2 and 3 such big episodes. We can have episodes that reach maximum temperature values ​​much higher than they would have reached without climate change and of course for a long time. It’s not just the heat. We may now have a heat wave and the temperature will reach 44, but after it will drop to 38 and 39, this does not bring relief, neither for humans nor, of course, for the environment”, underlines Mr. Giannaros to APE-MPE.

The Fire Services of the Regional Units are on partial alert where a very high risk of fire is predicted (risk category 4)

The Fire Services of the regional units are on partial alert where a very high risk of fire is predicted for today (risk category 4).

It is recalled that according to the Fire Risk Prediction Map of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection for today, Saturday 15 July 2023, a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted for the following areas:

· Region of Attica

· Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia)

· Peloponnese Region (Corinthia Region, Argolis Region)

· South Aegean Region (Rhodes Region)

· North Aegean Region (Chios Region, Samos Region, Ikaria Region)

Consequently, the 2nd stage of operational readiness of the P.S. and there will be aerial surveillance patrols, as well as patrols by Fire, Police and Military forces.

In addition, the staff of the Fire Services of the above Regional Units are put on partial alert, in order to deal with the increased service demands, which may arise due to a very high risk of fire (risk category 4).

At the same time, for the above areas, the Plan of Civil Protection actions to deal with risks due to forest fires is implemented, according to which, among other things, the implementation of the measure of the preventive ban on vehicle traffic and the stay of excursionists in national forests is foreseen, forests and “vulnerable” areas.

In direct cooperation with the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, all relevant government agencies involved, as well as the Regions and Municipalities of the above areas, have been informed, so that they are on increased readiness to take measures within their competence.

The Fire Brigade appeals to the citizens:

1. Be especially careful and avoid any activity that could cause a fire.

2. To monitor forest fire prevention information available on the website and official accounts of the Fire Service, Facebook and Twitter.

3. In the event that they notice a fire, they should immediately notify the Fire Service by dialing 199.

Finally, the PS appeals to all citizens to be particularly careful and in the event of a fire, for their own safety, to faithfully follow the instructions of the competent authorities.