African dust, local drizzle and unseasonably high temperatures will be the hallmarks of weather over the next few days, with spring now well and truly underway. According to meteorologists, the hottest day of the week is forecast to be Saturday with the mercury climbing to 30 degrees Celsius in Crete, Thessaly, eastern Sterea and the Peloponnese.

Today local showers (mud showers) or sporadic thunderstorms are expected in the west and north and later in the rest of the mainland and strong and in the southern Ionian Sea locally almost gusty southeastern winds.

The weather today

A few clouds are forecast, increasing in the west and north and gradually in the rest of the continent, with local rain or occasional thunderstorms in Macedonia, Thrace, North Aegean and from midday in Epirus, Ionian and gradually in the rest of the central and southern continental parts. In the evening and morning hours, mainly on the mainland, visibility will be limited in places, while the atmospheric circulation favours the transport of dust from North Africa, mainly in the western and southern parts. Mud showers will occur mainly in the western and southern areas where phenomena are expected.

The temperature will range from 10 to 20 degrees in Northern Greece (in Western Macedonia from 5 to 17 degrees), 12 to 22 degrees in Central and Southern Greece, 11 to 25 degrees in Western Greece (in Epirus from 7 to 17 degrees), 15 to 20 degrees in the Cyclades and from 11 to 24 degrees in Crete (in Northern Crete up to 28 degrees), 12 to 22 degrees in the East Aegean islands and from 14 to 19 degrees in the Dodecanese.

The winds will blow in the Aegean from south-southeast directions, moderate to strong 5-6 Beaufort, while in the Ionian Sea from southeast directions, moderate to strong 5-6 Beaufort and locally in the southern Ionian Sea almost gale force 7 Beaufort.

A few clouds, occasionally thicker and limited visibility in the morning and evening hours are expected on Wednesday in Attica. The temperature will range from 13 to 21 degrees Celsius, but in the north and coastal areas it will be 2-3 degrees lower. The winds will blow from southeastern directions, light to almost moderate 3-4 Beaufort, gradually increasing to moderate 5 Beaufort.

Clouds and local fog in the morning and evening hours are expected on Wednesday in Thessaloniki. The temperature will range from 12 to 19 degrees Celsius. The winds in Thermaikos will blow from southeastern directions, light and after noon moderate 4-5 Beaufort.

The weather on Thursday (13/03)

Cloudy with local rain mainly in the west and the north, with isolated short duration thunderstorms. The phenomena will stop at noon in most areas. Visibility in the evening hours in the western and northern mainland will be limited in places. The transport of African dust is favoured.

Winds will blow from southerly directions, in the west 4 to 5 and in the morning up to 6 Beaufort and in the east and south 6 to 8 Beaufort, weakening slightly in the afternoon.

From now onwards, the wind will be from 5 to 10:00 a.m. and from 5 to 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a slight breeze in the afternoon.

The temperature will remain high for the season and will reach 20 to 22 degrees Celsius in most areas and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius locally in the mainland and northern Crete.

The weather on Friday (14/03)

Generally clear weather with sparse clouds on the mainland and the Ionian Sea. Visibility in the morning hours in the western and northern mainland will be limited in places. The transport of African dust is favoured.

Winds will blow south southeast 4 to 6 and locally in the sea 7 Beaufort.

Temperatures will rise slightly and in most areas will reach levels 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal for the season.

The weather on Saturday (15/03)

Generally clear weather with scattered clouds, which will become thicker at noon in the northwest and gradually in the remaining northern areas. The transport of African dust is favoured.

Winds will blow south southeast 4 to 6 Beaufort, in the Aegean and Crete 6 to 7 and locally in the Ionian Sea 8 Beaufort.

The temperature will rise further. Indicatively, it will reach 24 degrees Celsius in Thessaloniki, 26 degrees in Athens and 30 degrees Celsius in northern Crete.

In the south of Crete, the temperature will be in the south-eastern part of the island, in the south of Greece and in the south of Greece it will be in the south-eastern part of the island.

The weather on Sunday (16/03)

In the west and the north, clouds, partly cloudy. From midday there will be local rain and possibly isolated thunderstorms mainly in the northwest and Macedonia. In the rest of the country thin clouds, occasionally denser. The transport of African dust is favoured.

Winds in the west will blow initially from the south and gradually from the west 4 to 5 Beaufort. In the east will blow south 4 to 6 and in the Aegean Sea and Crete 6 to 7 and possibly occasionally up to 8 Beaufort.

The temperature will drop slightly in the west and north, but in the east and south it will remain very high for the season.