Weather: August 15 with gale-force winds, cooler temperatures, and fire 'Red Code'

Greece is bracing for a mixed weather forecast for the August 15 holiday, with cooler temperatures and strong winds expected across the country. While the winds may bring some relief from the heat, they also heighten the risk of fires, particularly in eastern and southern regions.

Saturday, August 15, will see localized cloudiness and potential afternoon showers in mainland areas and Crete. Central and western Macedonia, northwestern Thessaly, Epirus, Corfu, and mountainous Crete can expect moderate rain. Thunderstorms are possible in the northwest, but conditions are expected to clear by the afternoon.

The temperature will drop, reaching highs of 27-30 degrees Celsius, with some southern areas like Crete and the Dodecanese reaching 33 degrees. The Aegean Sea will experience strong northerly winds, reaching up to 7-8 Beaufort, and potentially 9 in the Cyclades, though they are expected to ease by the afternoon. Athens will see temperatures between 20-29 degrees with winds of 6-8 Beaufort.

Looking ahead to Sunday and Monday, the weather is expected to improve with winds gradually subsiding and temperatures rising slightly. However, the risk of fires remains a concern. A risk assessment committee met on Friday, August 14, to discuss the strong winds. Scientists on the committee noted that the very strong to gale-force winds will persist through Saturday, especially in eastern and southern Greece, with specific warnings issued for Thrace, the northern Aegean islands, eastern and southern Peloponnese, Attica, Boeotia, Evia, and the central Aegean.