Hottest Greek summer in the last 50 years

Three prolonged heat waves broke all records

In some parts of Greece, June 2007 was the hottest June since 1955. In Athens, the average maximum temperature was 33.9C (93.02F) while the Nea Philadelphia station recorded a temperature of 46.2C (115.16F).

By Yiannis Elafros - KathimerinI

This year’s scorching three months were the hottest of the last 50 years in Greece, according to the National Meteorological Service (EMY). With no less than three heat waves for the first time since records were kept and record temperatures in several regions, this summer was bad weather rather than good weather. The unprecedented high temperatures in Greece were indicative of rising temperatures observed over the last 30 years. The greenhouse effect is a reality, whether or not those in authority have acknowledged it.

Meteorologist Dimitris Ziakopoulos highlighted that “this summer was peculiar in that there were three prolonged and intense heat waves. Maximum temperatures had never reached such high levels in the last 50 years. In many areas, it was the hottest summer of the last few decades in terms of average maximum temperatures over the three summer months.”

During the first heat wave (June 19 to 28) eastern and southern Greece were affected with the highest temperatures recorded in Athens and the eastern Peloponnese. In the capital, a temperature of 46.2 degrees Celsius (115.16 Fahrenheit) was recorded by the Nea Philadelphia weather station, while in Argos the figure was 46.4 degrees (115.52F) and in Astros 46 degrees (114.80F). “Temperatures reached 44.8 degrees Celsius (112.64F) at the Observatory, which is the highest figure since the end of the 19th century,” said Ziakopoulos. “In some areas, June of 2007 was the hottest since 1955; in Athens the average maximum temperature was 33.9 degrees Celsius (93.02F).

In the second heat wave (July 18-25), western and northern Greece were mainly affected, with record temperatures observed in several cities (Serres, Thessaloniki and Corfu). In Athens, average maximum temperatures in July were 36.1 degrees, not quite as hot as the July of 2000, which holds the record.

The third heat wave affected mainly western Greece and without a doubt contributed to the spate of disastrous fires that swept across the western Peloponnese. In eastern Greece, this heat wave was milder, temperatures did not exceed 39 degrees Celsius (102.2F). In Athens, the average maximum temperature for August was 35.1 Celsius (95.18F); the year 1998, with 35.8 Celsius (96.44F), holds the record. It was not just the fact that there were three heat waves, average maximum temperatures were the highest ever. The Nea Philadelphia station recorded 35 degrees Celsius as the average maximum, the highest for the last 52 years. The next highest average temperature was 34.7C in 1998, while the figure between between 1999 and 2001 was 34.3C to 34.4C degrees (93.7F to 93.9F). In 2003, the figure was 34.5 degrees (94.1F).

Over the last 10 years, average maximum temperatures recorded at Nea Philadelphia have been over 34 degrees Celsius. This is a significant upward trend if we take into account that maximum temperatures in the summer months over the last 30 years (1961 to 1990) have been 32.6 degrees (90.7F).

The scorching summer that has just passed is undoubtedly the worst of the last few decades with thousands of hectares burnt and a large number of lives lost. Considerable discomfort was experienced, with numerous incidents of heatstroke recorded (at least 366 and 18 fatalities in the first two heat waves), not to mention the enormous quantities of energy consumed. Generally the population’s health and the country’s flora and fauna have all been adversely affected. Maybe the summers to come will no longer be as carefree as in the past.