Meteo.gr forecasts wind gusts up to 120 km/h in Crete as heat persists

The near-windless conditions of the past 24 hours are set to give way to much stronger winds across Crete on Saturday, with gusts reaching up to 120 km/h in places, according to forecasts from the National Observatory of Athens’ meteo.gr service.

Despite the intensifying winds, high temperatures are expected to persist, with highs reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in parts of Greece, meteo.gr said.

The main feature of Saturday’s weather will be a significant strengthening of the meltemi winds, with gusts locally exceeding 100 km/h, according to the forecast. High-resolution prediction models from the observatory show northerly winds reaching an average intensity of 7 Beaufort in the Aegean, with local gusts of 8 Beaufort in the southeastern Aegean.

Crete expected to see the strongest gusts

According to meteo.gr, Crete is expected to be at the center of the strongest winds, with gusts on the island locally exceeding 100 km/h. In eastern Crete, gusts are forecast to reach as high as 110 to 120 km/h. The Heraklion Port Authority has previously raised readiness levels during similar strong-wind episodes affecting the island.

Winds are also forecast to intensify in the southeastern Aegean, where maximum gusts are expected to approach 90 km/h, meteo.gr said.

For Crete specifically, the service forecasts clear skies on Saturday, with winds blowing from northerly directions at 5 to 7 Beaufort and locally reaching 8 Beaufort in the southeast. Temperatures on the island are expected to range from 24 to 30-31 degrees Celsius, with southern Crete reaching up to 34 degrees.

The forecast follows a stretch of hot, largely calm weather across the region, part of a wider pattern this summer in which forecasters have repeatedly flagged the combination of strengthening meltemi winds and persistent high temperatures affecting Crete.