Greek civil protection authorities have placed seven regions across the country on Category 4 Red Code wildfire alert for Sunday, August 16, 2026, as persistent strong winds continue to create dangerous fire conditions across the Aegean Sea and eastern mainland.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection issued the maximum warning level for the Region of Attica including the island of Kythira, the Boeotia and Euboea regional units in Central Greece including Skyros, the Cyclades island group in the South Aegean, and the entire island of Crete.
According to forecasts from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, northerly winds will reach force 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale across the Aegean on Sunday, while temperatures will rise to 35 degrees Celsius in parts of the mainland and the Dodecanese.
In Greece, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection operates a five-tier risk index where Category 4 Red Code designates very high danger requiring heightened operational readiness. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service, known as EMY, is the state agency responsible for official weather forecasting and atmospheric advisories.
Active Wildfires and Arson Arrests
Firefighters fought a major wildfire on two active fronts on the island of Skyros, where overnight winds exceeding force 7 on the Beaufort scale pushed flames toward the settlement of Pefko.
Emergency crews reinforced ground operations around Pefko to protect residents, supported by seven firefighting aircraft and five helicopters conducting continuous water drops until winds began weakening in the afternoon.
Fire operations on the island of Andros showed an improved picture in the Kato Aprovatos area after authorities alerted residents through the 112 emergency text system. Meanwhile, police in Rethymno, Crete, arrested an Israeli citizen after a wildfire broke out in Plakias from an outdoor barbecue he had lit.
Torrential Rain and Storm Damage in Mani
Severe weather also brought sudden destruction to the Mani peninsula, where an unprecedented summer storm dropped as much rainfall in hours as the region typically receives over an entire year.
Lightning struck a woman inside her car during the downpour, while rushing floodwaters turned streets into torrents, inundated homes, and trapped drivers inside their vehicles.
Local residents described the severe storm as an unprecedented event for the area. Health Minister Georgiadis stated that the National Health System was placed on full alert and confirmed that emergency medical operations were progressing smoothly. Mani is a rugged peninsula situated in the southern Peloponnese region of Greece.
Regional Weather Forecast Across Greece
In Attica, weather remains generally clear with temporary morning clouds, north-northeasterly winds reaching 4 to 6 Beaufort and temporarily 7 in the east before easing from noon, and temperatures between 23 and 33 degrees Celsius. Thessaloniki expects clear skies, variable winds of 3 to 4 Beaufort turning southerly in the afternoon, and temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius.
Macedonia and Thrace will experience clear conditions with afternoon mountain clouds and temperatures from 18 to 34 degrees Celsius, while Thessaly, Eastern Central Greece, Evia, and the Eastern Peloponnese face northerly winds reaching 6 to 7 Beaufort and temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius.
The Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Central Greece, and the Western Peloponnese expect temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius alongside afternoon mountain showers in Epirus. The Cyclades will see temperatures from 23 to 29 degrees Celsius, while northern Crete faces light local rain and southern Crete reaches 34 degrees Celsius. The Eastern Aegean Islands and Dodecanese face northerly winds of 6 to 7 Beaufort, temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, and possible isolated thunderstorms.
Weather Outlook for the Coming Week
Meteorological forecast models indicate that winds will begin weakening on Monday, August 17, with temperatures hovering between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius. Temporary afternoon clouds will bring local showers and isolated thunderstorms primarily to western mountain ranges.
On Tuesday, August 18, northern regions will see afternoon cloudiness and mountain rain, with limited morning visibility in the western mainland. Temperatures will drop slightly on Wednesday, August 19, in the north and east as temporary clouds bringing light showers gradually clear across northeastern Greece.
Maritime Incidents and Local Police News
Increased passenger traffic was reported at Attica ports as holidaymakers returned from the August 15 holiday celebrations. At sea, the passenger vessel Blue Star Mykonos paid traditional honors to the Virgin Mary off Tinos, while the ferry Skopelitis navigated heavy waves in the Aegean.
A sailboat ran aground west of Rio near Patras with all five passengers safe, while a collision between a speedboat and a sailboat outside Eretria port left two people injured. Offshore in the Saronic Gulf, sea currents swept an engine-less inflatable boat carrying four Romanian citizens who were navigating using oars.
In Paros, a taxi driver was arrested and charged with dangerous bodily harm after assaulting an elderly car rental employee over a parking space. The driver claimed he acted after being struck first, while colleagues requested an investigation into preceding events and his employer confirmed his immediate firing. In Sparta, police searched for three masked robbers who stole a gold cross and 70 euros from a 63-year-old man and his 90-year-old mother.
National Bulletins and Public Health Reports
Greek authorities recorded the country's first official complaints regarding same-sex workplace harassment between employees. Meanwhile, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue imposed a 1.32 million euro fine on a car rental business for operating 132 vehicles that had been officially registered as declared off-road.
The National Public Health Organization, known as EODY, issued a warning regarding the West Nile virus outbreak, predicting that peak transmission lay ahead. In Meteora, international pop star Madonna spent three hours at the Varlaam Monastery seeking spiritual advice from the Abbot.
Media personality Maria Menounos publicly reflected on her health journey, stating that God had a plan far larger than her own. Actor Nikos Bourdoumis expressed regret that former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras did not attend the screening of the Gavras film in which Bourdoumis portrayed him. International reporting noted that a 62-year-old woman in Argentina set a national record as the oldest mother to give birth, while musician Brian May publicly criticized artificial intelligence as unnecessary.
Business Science and Regional Highlights
Human rights reports marked five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, highlighting systemic abuses and summary executions. In Iran, reports detailed an 18-day detention of a female student protester who was injected with anti-psychotics, while in the United States, authorities examined domestic abuse history following a fatal shooting in Michigan.
Taxpayers in Greece entered a 100-day window to secure 36 months of tax-free rental income providing savings of up to 45 percent. Medical researchers reported promising weight loss results from a weekly obesity medication, while sleep specialists identified specific sleep disruptions as early indicators of Alzheimer's disease prior to memory loss.
