First Heat Wave Hits Greece Sunday, Temperatures to Reach 42°C

Greece's first heat wave of the summer arrives Sunday and lasts through Wednesday, with temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius (108°F) in parts of Thessaly, central and western Sterea, and the eastern and southern Peloponnese, meteorologist Yiannis Kallianos said. Central Macedonia will see highs near 40 degrees.

Athens will be spared the worst, with temperatures climbing gradually and peaking around 39°C on Wednesday, a day after most of the country starts cooling down.

Meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas said the heat will break sharply afterward, with temperatures dropping 8-10 degrees and rain returning to northern and central Greece between July 22-24.