Greece faces a growing risk of severe heatwaves as Europe continues to warm at roughly twice the global average, a climate expert has warned.
Athanassios Argiriou, a physics professor at the University of Patra, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) that Greece’s Eastern Mediterranean location places it in a high-risk zone for more frequent, intense and prolonged heat events. Citing data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization, Argiriou said Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with recent extremes driven by “heat domes” – persistent high-pressure systems that trap hot air near the surface.
He noted that major heat years such as 2003, 2010 and 2022 were associated with tens of thousands of heat-related deaths across Europe.
He said the effect is intensified by clear skies, dry soil and the transport of hot air masses from North Africa.
In Greece, vulnerability varies by region. Inland plains and enclosed basins – including Thessaly, Macedonia, Thrace, Viotia, central Greece and parts of the Peloponnese – are most exposed to extreme temperatures. Athens and Thessaloniki face added stress from the urban heat island effect, particularly at night. Island and coastal areas generally see lower peak temperatures, though low winds and humidity can increase heat stress.
