🇬🇷Greece

Greece extends from 34°48′ to 41°45′N across southeastern Europe at the southern end of the Balkan peninsula, covering approximately 131,957 km² of highly mountainous terrain with the Pindos chain forming the spine, rising to Smolikas at 2,637 m, Mount Olympus at 2,917 m as the highest peak, the rugged Peloponnese, Crete with Mount Ida at 2,456 m, and roughly 6,000 islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. This topography produces a strong climate gradient: hot-summer Mediterranean Csa dominates the south, the islands, and most coasts including Athens, Heraklion, and Rhodes; warm-summer Mediterranean Csb prevails on the higher slopes and the cooler northwest; and humid continental Cfa or Dfb characterizes the northern continental interior around Thessaloniki, Florina, and Drama.

Athens averages 9°C in January and 28°C in July with 400 mm of rainfall almost entirely concentrated October through April, bone-dry summers, and frequent meltemi northerlies. Heraklion on Crete records 12°C in January and 26°C in July with 480 mm. Thessaloniki shows continental influence at 5°C in January and 27°C in July with 470 mm and snowy winters.

Ioannina in the Pindos uplands averages 5°C in January and 26°C in July with 1,090 mm and reliable winter snow on the surrounding peaks. Mount Olympus summit averages −5°C with deep snowpack. Major climate events include the 2018 Mati wildfires that killed 102 people near Athens, the 2007 and 2021 fire seasons, the August 2007 record of 47.5°C at Elefsina, the September 2023 Storm Daniel that brought major floods to Thessaly with over 1,000 mm rainfall, recurring Athens summer heatwaves, multi-year droughts, and water-supply stress on Aegean islands.

Our archive covers 8 Greek cities with daily ERA5 reanalysis data going back to 1940. The warmest July averages occur in Kallithéa, around 33.7°C, while Thessaloníki records the coldest January nights near 1.9°C. Comparing the last decade against the 1940–1970 baseline, mean temperatures across these cities have risen by about 1.4°C.5°C Elefsina record, and increasingly devastating fire seasons like 2018 Mati and 2021.