Thunderstorms and rain sweep central Greece as temperatures ease from Tuesday's 35°C peak
A sharp shift in weather will bring rain and thunderstorms to central Greece, Thessaly, and northern Sterea on Wednesday, with showers also reaching Attica and Thessaloniki by midday.
A sudden change after Tuesday's heat
Greece's weather will pivot sharply on Wednesday 17 June 2026, with rain and thunderstorms forecast for the central mainland and a slight temperature drop after Tuesday's peak of 35.3°C in several locations. The National Meteorological Service (EMY) and meteorologist Theodoris Kolydas both point to the Ionian Sea, western, central, and northern mainland as the primary zones for the day's unsettled conditions.
Tuesday saw the temperature exceed 35°C at six stations, with the maximum recorded at Thiva, Stylida, and Nea Odos Thivas (35.3°C each), according to the National Observatory of Athens / meteo.gr automatic station network. Across the country, 283 of 582 active stations (roughly 49%) exceeded 30°C, with the average maximum at 29.6°C, just 0.2°C above Monday's level.
The GFS, which in the previous episode captured the maximum in Thessaly satisfactorily, insists again on elevated precipitation amounts. Since the ECMWF also strengthens the signal for the same broader region, increased caution is needed in central Greece, Thessaly, and the northern parts of Sterea. The forecast amounts are not necessarily extreme, but if they occur in a short time window they can create local problems.
Where and when the rain will fall
EMY forecasts place the core of the instability over the Ionian, western, central, and northern mainland, with cloud cover building through the morning and localised showers or thunderstorms breaking out. In the rest of the country conditions will remain generally clear, though the remaining mainland areas will see cloud build-up during the midday-to-afternoon hours, bringing local showers and isolated mountain thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to improve by evening.
Attica will stay mostly clear through the morning, then see clouds increase from midday into the afternoon with local rain or showers and possible isolated thunderstorms, mainly in the hills. Thessaloniki will experience a similar pattern: few clouds early, then rapid build-up with local rain and isolated storms. Winds in both cities will blow from northerly directions at 3 to 4 Beaufort, reaching 5 locally in western Attica.
Temperature and wind outlook
Temperatures will register a small decline from Tuesday's highs, reaching 30 to 32°C in most areas and 33 to 34°C locally on the mainland. In Athens the range is 21 to 32°C; in Thessaloniki, 18 to 31°C. The Cyclades and Crete will see generally clear skies with temperatures from 20 to 28°C, though Crete may hit 30 to 31°C locally. Winds across the Aegean will blow from the north at 3 to 5 Beaufort, touching 6 locally.
The broader fortnight ahead
Kolydas, in a separate social-media post, flagged a mild warming trend for the central and western Balkans over the next two weeks, without a clear signal for a generalised and prolonged heatwave in Greece. Temperatures in the country are expected to stay near or slightly above seasonal norms, with occasional higher values on the mainland. The forecast for Thursday 18 June points to generally clear conditions with only brief morning clouds and local rain over the Sporades and Evia, followed by afternoon showers and isolated mountain storms in the Peloponnese.
- Morning: clouds build over Ionian, western, central, and northern mainland; generally clear elsewhere
- Midday: rain and thunderstorms begin in central Greece, Thessaly, northern Sterea; Attica clouds increase
- Afternoon: peak instability — local showers and isolated storms in Attica, Thessaloniki, and mainland hills
- Evening: conditions improve across all regions; winds ease
Regional breakdown
- Macedonia and Thrace: increased clouds with local rain or showers and thunderstorms, mainly in Macedonia; improvement by evening. Winds variable 2 to 4 Beaufort, northerly 3 to 5 in eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Temperatures 18 to 32°C, locally 33°C; 2 to 4 degrees lower in western Macedonia.
- Ionian Islands, Epirus, western Sterea, western Peloponnese: initially few clouds over the Ionian, gradually spreading, with local rain or showers and afternoon mountain thunderstorms. Improvement by evening. Winds westerly 3 to 4, locally 5 Beaufort. Temperatures 17 to 30°C, up to 31°C on the mainland; 2 to 3 degrees lower in inland Epirus.
- Thessaly, eastern Sterea, Evia, eastern Peloponnese: few clouds turning periodically heavier with local rain, afternoon showers, and mountain thunderstorms. Improvement by evening. Winds variable 3, gradually northerly 3 to 5 Beaufort. Temperatures 18 to 31°C, locally 32 to 33°C on the mainland.
- Cyclades, Crete: generally clear. Winds westerly 3 to 5, locally northerly up to 6 in the Cyclades. Temperatures 20 to 28°C, locally 30 to 31°C in Crete.
- Eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese: generally clear with occasional thin clouds in the north. Winds northerly 4 to 6 Beaufort. Temperatures 21 to 31-32°C.
