Greece braces for more fires as Storm Lilian crosses Britain

Fire risks in Greece have risen as temperatures soar and near-gale force winds lash the Aegean Sea, while Storm Lilian batters parts of the UK.

There is a very high fire risk in Athens and the surrounding Attica region, plus the northeastern Peloponnese and islands including Lesvos, Samos and Evia. Etesian winds or meltemia will blow from the north over the weekend.

“For the next three days we will have difficult weather conditions and the winds of the summer melt will prevail,” Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias said.

Remnants of Hurricane Ernesto trigger wind and rain warnings in Scotland

Greece and the Balkans have been hit by heat waves and forest fires this summer as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. While this season has seen the most fires in more than two decades in Greece, the deployment of drones and cameras has allowed authorities to largely contain the outbreaks.

There were 27 bushfires in the 24 hours to 6.30pm on Thursday. Temperatures on the Greek mainland will reach 39C (102F) on Saturday.

On the Atlantic island of Madeira, Portuguese firefighters continue to tackle a fire that started last week in an inaccessible mountainous area. There is currently no risk of the fire reaching the city of Funchal, according to authorities.

Storm Lilian – which includes the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto – is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to northern England, north Wales and southern Scotland. The 12th named storm of the season will pack wind gusts of up to 75 miles (121 kilometers) per hour.

Orange wind alerts are also in place for the Dutch and German coasts.

After a cold and wet start to the weekend in London, temperatures will rise to 27C by next Wednesday, according to the Met Office.

Winds are now strengthening in many areas, with the strongest winds occurring over the next few hours in N England and N Wales.
Damaging gusts are possible in places, so make sure you stay put #Aware of the weather https://t.co/Oudv6Qw4lW

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 23, 2024

Photo: Firefighters work to control a fire in Dionysos, Greece. Photo credit: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg

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