Meteorologist forecasts 39°C highs in Crete before meltemi winds strengthen, plays down dust concerns
Temperatures in Crete reached up to 39°C on Wednesday, and meteorologist Michalis Karakatsanis told CretaOne.gr that meltemi winds will strengthen from Thursday, gradually changing the weather pattern on the island through the weekend.
Karakatsanis also addressed recent public discussion about a dust transport episode, saying there is currently no significant dust event affecting Greece. According to him, Crete is not expected to be significantly affected by the phenomenon. Should any dust reach the island, he said it would mainly affect western and central parts of Crete, and the episode could not be described as severe. A Saharan dust forecast reported the potential for the cloud to reach the island around the same period.
Temperatures peak at 39°C on Wednesday
Karakatsanis said the hot weather continued on Wednesday, with the mercury reaching 39°C locally. The highest temperatures were recorded mainly in inland areas of the island and in its southernmost regions. Winds on Wednesday were not expected to exceed 4 Beaufort, allowing temperatures to remain high for the season.
Meltemi strengthens from Thursday
From Thursday and through Friday, atmospheric circulation is set to change, particularly regarding wind patterns, according to the forecast. The meltemi is expected to gain strength, reaching 6 to 7 Beaufort locally, mainly in the southeastern and eastern sea areas around the island. Maximum temperatures are forecast to ease slightly but remain relatively high for the season, with inland central areas and urban centers staying warm during the hottest hours of the day.
Strong winds persist Friday and Saturday, raising fire risk
The strengthened meltemi is expected to continue into Saturday, with winds blowing at 5 to 7 Beaufort. The presence of strong winds is expected to help keep temperatures at levels closer to seasonal norms. Similar wind conditions were noted in an earlier forecast when the Heraklion Port Authority raised its readiness level.
Karakatsanis said the combination of strengthened winds from Thursday through Saturday requires increased readiness and monitoring for fire risk. “This means that essentially from tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday and Saturday, Crete will enter a period of heightened readiness regarding wildfires, given that the meltemi will be blowing at increased strength. We need to be careful,” he said. Fire authorities have separately flagged elevated wildfire risk for the island in recent days.
Winds ease Sunday as temperatures rise again
From Sunday, the meltemi is expected to gradually weaken. Karakatsanis said a gradual decrease in wind intensity is expected from Sunday afternoon. This shift is forecast to lead to a renewed rise in temperatures, with available data indicating the thermometer will again move to levels higher than usual for the season.
