Adverse fire-weather conditions in 11 areas – see maps

The reason for the most unfavorable fire-weather conditions is the strong northerly winds (6-7 bf, locally 8 bf) over the Aegean and eastern mainland.

On Tuesday and Wednesday 18 – 19.07.2023, we expect a very high risk of forest fires occurring and spreading in the Aegean, the eastern mainland and inland in the western Peloponnese.

The most unfavorable fire-meteorological conditions are due to the strong northerly winds (6-7 bf, locally 8 bf) in the Aegean and the Eastern Continent, combined with the extremely hot and dry conditions that have prevailed in our country in recent days, and have significantly increased the flammability of forest fuels. Overall, fire-weather conditions on Tuesday 18.07.2023 and Wednesday 19.07.2023 are expected to be especially dangerous for the occurrence and spread of forest fires, with hot – dry – windy weather.

In particular, on Tuesday 18.07.2023 we expect a high risk of wind-driven wildfires in Attica (mainly east), N and S Evia, Corinth, Argolis, Laconia, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Naxos and Crete.

On Wednesday 19.07.2023 we expect high risk of wind-driven wildfires in Attica, Boeotia, Phocis, Evia, Corinthia, Argolis, Arcadia, Laconia, Messinia, Lesbos, Chios, Lemnos, Skyros, Samos. West Styria, Ilia, Achaia, Zakynthos, Cyclades and Rhodes are expected to be at the highest risk.

In the aforementioned geographic zones, it is indicated that special attention should be paid to areas where northerly winds “align” with terrain and forest fuels (eg, when winds are perpendicular to a densely vegetated mountain slope), increasing the potential for extreme fire behavior.

Finally, currently available forecast data indicates a continuation of fire-weather conditions in the coming days as a significant rise in temperatures is expected again.