Greece experiences the hottest June since records began
Greece experienced the hottest June on record since records began, with the average temperature having risen by 2.5 degrees Celsius since 1960, according to Kostas Lagouvardos, head of the Research Department at the National Observatory in Athens, who spoke on Tuesday.
"June 2024 was characterized by long periods of several days with high temperatures that were far above normal seasonal temperatures across the country," Lagouvardos said. Previously, the highest temperatures in June in Greece had been around 30-31 degrees Celsius. However, temperatures this year climbed to 35 degrees and reached over 40 degrees during a heatwave in the middle of the month.
According to government statements, there were over twice as many forest fires in Greece in June as in the same month the previous year. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated on Monday that there had been 1,281 forest fires in June 2024 - compared to 533 in June 2023.
Forest fires, which are fueled by strong winds and drought, have recently caused damage in the Athens region, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and on the island of Chios in the north-eastern Aegean Sea. Scientists attribute the increased likelihood and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves to climate change. The risk of forest fires is highest under conditions of heat, drought, and strong winds.
The increase in forest fires in Greece during June 2024 broke previous records, surpassing the number of fires seen in June 2023 by more than double. This increase in forest fires can be linked to the record-breaking high temperatures experienced in Greece during June 2024. The start of these devastating forest fires in Greece was triggered by the extreme heatwave that hit the country in June 2024.
