Europe heatwave: Greece weather maps turn deep red as temperatures set to hit 43C

British tourists heading to Greece are facing blistering temperatures, as the Mediterranean country remains in the grip of a boiling heatwave.

Weather maps by WXCharts, which uses data from MetDesk, suggest Greece is facing another sweltering weekend, with temperatures in the mid to late 30s in most areas.

The central region of the country, in the Larissa area, will be particularly hot, with the mercury forecasted to hit 41C on Friday, August 2, and 43C the following day.

The weather maps for daily temperatures in the country have been volcanic red for weeks, as Greece has been dealing with a deadly heatwave since June.

Local authorities have urged residents and tourists alike to stay out of the sun, particularly in the central hours of the day, and to avoid straining activities such as hiking.

The hot air relentlessly blowing from Africa over the southern European continent forced earlier this month authorities to shut down for a few hours one of the city's most stunning attractions.

On July 17, Greece’s Culture Ministry ordered the closure of the Acropolis between 12pm and 5pm local time due to the blistering heat, while the local Red Cross handed out chilled bottled water and information fliers to those who were waiting in line outside of the historic site.

The dense urban development of Athens makes the European capital particularly exposed to heat, and with an ageing population, a similar long-lasting heatwave may have dangerous repercussions on people. 

Millions of UK holidaymakers travel to Greece every summer to enjoy its stunning historic sites, beautiful beaches and crystalline waters.

Data from the Bank of Greece on the inbound tourist market suggested nearly 4.8 million German tourists headed to the Mediterranean country last year. 

British tourists were only a few thousand less, with nearly 4.6 million people from the UK booking a holiday in Greece in 2023.