Meteorologists are warning that temperature records may be broken this summer in Greece as long-range forecasts are predicting an even hotter summer than 2024.

Last year, Greece experienced the warmest summer and winter on record, according to the country’s meteorological service. The highest temperature in the summer of 2024 was 44.5 degrees Celsius (112.1 degrees Fahrenheit), which was recorded on the island of Crete on June 13.

In June 2024, the temperatures were so extreme that it was recorded as the warmest June ever recorded in Greece. On Samos, where one hiker died, temperatures also climbed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), reaching the mid-40s.

Data shows that most victims of heat-related deaths in Greece are from countries with cooler climates who arrive in the country on holiday and rush to the beach without allowing their bodies time to acclimatise. However, doctors confirm that even local Greeks require time to adjust to the extreme temperatures experienced in recent years.

Due to the number of heat-stroke-related deaths each year in Greece, authorities are urging people to adhere strictly to advice on how to keep safe and well in the high summer temperatures.

Link to health advice