Greece: Temperature records broken across seasons in 2024

Greece experienced its hottest summer and warmest winter on record in 2024, according to data from the National Observatory of Athens’ Meteo.gr network. The year brought unprecedented temperatures, extreme rainfall and a notable frequency of impactful weather events.

June 13 saw the year’s peak heat at 44.5°C in Voukolies, Hania, in Crete. In contrast, the coldest temperature of -23.2°C was recorded in Vathystalos, Parnassus, on January 12. Rainfall peaked on December 1, with Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos logging a staggering 435mm in one day, while the annual total rainfall at Askifou, Hania, reached 2,160mm.

Thirty-one significant weather incidents disrupted daily life in 2023, well above the 2000-2024 average, while nine weather-related deaths – though tragic – marked a decline over previous years.

Meteo.gr experts noted that the data underscores the urgent need for action, as Greece’s extremes hint at the growing impact of climate change, noting the concerning precedent set by scorching summers to unexpected winter warmth.

Source: ekathimerini.com