In 2024, Greece experienced its warmest June since 1960, according to a researcher who spoke on Tuesday, as the country prepares for a summer marked by heatwaves and wildfires.
Kostas Lagouvardos, the research director at the National Observatory of Athens, noted that the average temperature in Greece has risen by 2.5° Celsius from 1960 to 2024. He highlighted that June 2024 was notable for extended periods of high temperatures, significantly exceeding typical seasonal norms across the nation.
Typically, June temperatures in Greece do not surpass 30-31° Celsius (86-88° Fahrenheit), but this year saw temperatures reach 35°C, with a mid-June heatwave where temperatures exceeded 40°C, according to Lagouvardos.
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis informed reporters this week that there were 1,281 fires in June this year compared to 533 in the same month last year. Fires have been exacerbated by strong winds and drought conditions in areas near Athens, on the island of Chios close to the Turkish mainland, and in the Peloponnese region south of the capital.
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the likelihood, duration, and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves.
