The temperature could soar to 42 degrees Celsius (109F) in some parts of Greece by the weekend, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said yesterday as people were warned to take extra care in the heat.

The average temperature in Greece for the next three days is expected to be 38 Celsius (100F). It is due to be even warmer on Friday and over the weekend.

“We think the temperature will be between 40 and 42 degrees at the start of next week as well,” the head of forecasting at EMY, Dimitris Ziakopoulos, told Kathimerini.

Ziakopoulos said it was quite rare for the temperature to reach 40 degrees or higher in Athens during June. The highest temperature on record for this period was in 1982, when it reached 45 degrees in Athens.

The Health Ministry recommended that people eat lightly, wear loose clothes and drink plenty of water.