The weather will resemble summer on Monday, as the mercury will even climb to 30-31 degrees in several areas, while they are expected to return to normal levels for the season after Wednesday.
The high temperatures for the season force experts to highlight the risks that exist. As they point out, the heat and drought caused by climate change must be handled with care especially by vulnerable groups.
“We will have readings above normal across most of Europe. On average, the temperature in our country in the last 30 years has risen by 1.5 degrees. With the high temperatures and the lack of rain, it is something that helps to dry up the fuel in the forests quite quickly,” said the research director of the Athens Observatory, Kostas Lagouvardos.
Large deviations of temperatures from normal values
The director of the EMY, Thodoris Kolidas, focuses on the large deviations that the temperatures will have on Monday and Tuesday, in relation to the usual levels for the season, mapping the temperature anomalies on maps.
“The risk indicators for fires are not high due to the absence of enhanced surface winds. However, a little caution on our part, it’s good to have” emphasizes Mr. Kolidas, underlining that “for Sunday in most areas we will have 24 to 26 and locally in the eastern continental 28 degrees. On Monday, several areas will see temperatures of 25 degrees and above, locally in the eastern continental 30-31 degrees. On Tuesday we will have a drop in the west, while locally in the eastern mainland and Crete 30 degrees Celsius”.
🌡️📈 WE ARE WARM GOODBYE TO MARCH AND WELCOME APRIL.
✅The first map shows the temperature deviations from normal values on the surface and the second map shows the surface temperatures.
Fire hazard indicators are not… pic.twitter.com/ZUBpEkGzRv— Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) March 30, 2024
“The southerlies will bring a new heat wave from Africa along with dust. So, from tomorrow and especially on Monday, we expect the mercury to climb and exceed 30 degrees Celsius and the sky to take on its familiar gray color,” noted meteorologist Tasos Arniakos, adding that “we are moving at temperatures of 10-12 degrees above normal for this season.”
Dust transport from Africa
According to the latest forecast data from meteo.gr / National Observatory of Athens, the atmospheric circulation over Europe in the coming days will favor the transport of extremely warm for the season gas masses from Africa to Eastern Europe and our country with the peak to be expected on the three-day Sunday 31/03 – Tuesday 02/04.
Doctors warn about dangerous particles
The high temperatures combined with the African dust create an explosive cocktail for the body.
The Union of Pulmonologists of Greece especially calls on people who belong to the vulnerable and sensitive population groups to be especially careful.
“Those who are afflicted should stay indoors and not only avoid fatigue outside, but avoid in any way inhaling this pollution. The use of a mask, as we learned to use it with the coronavirus, can also hold the particles well,” said pulmonologist Panagiotis Behrakis.
For susceptible groups, it is recommended to avoid a lot of movement, the preventive use of a mask, staying indoors, reducing exposure to pollen, while if they experience shortness of breath, then medical advice should be sought immediately.
It is also recommended to clean the filters in the air conditioners, use an ionizer, shower immediately after the walk, wash clothes after the walk, and also avoid spreading clothes outside.
180,000 tons of sand from the Sahara covered the Swiss sky
A huge amount of sand from the Sahara has blanketed the Swiss sky since Friday, dramatically reducing visibility and giving daylight a yellowish tint to much of the country.
As sand accumulates below 3000 meters, air quality has deteriorated significantly, from the shores of Lake Geneva to the rest of the country.
AirCHeck, the app launched by the cantons to provide real-time data on air quality in Switzerland, reports that air pollution is high in a radius from the southwest to the northeast of the country.
That dust reached about 180,000 tonnes, according to the calculation models used, meteorologist Roman Broly of SRF Meteo told public radio.
Already on Friday, a strong southerly wind had carried sand from the Sahara from northern Africa to Switzerland.
The Sahara is the largest source of mineral dust, releasing between 60 and 200 million tonnes per year, and while the larger particles fall quickly to the ground, the smaller ones can be transported thousands of kilometers and reach across Europe. As it settles, this sand gives the snow an orange tint.
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