The Fire Brigade has been alerted by the «explosive» for the outbreak of fires «cocktail» of high temperatures, strong winds and drought that will prevail in the coming days.
This is the «Hot - Dry - Windy» phenomenon that in the summer of 2023 led to the catastrophic fires in Rhodes and the areas of Attica and Boeotia.
These weather conditions put again today (18/6) Attica and Evia in a very high risk level for fire today (Tuesday 18/6).
In particular, it is expected that the 6-7 Beaufort winds blowing over the Aegean and the eastern mainland combined with the establishment of warm and dry conditions, which significantly increase the flammability of dead forest fuels.
The phenomenon will last from today (18/6) until Friday (21/6) is expected to be characterized by the particularly dangerous, for the outbreak and spread of forest fires, type of weather Hot - Dry - Windy.
Here comes the «Qiraz Meltem»
In a post by meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas it is stated that the phenomenon «Kiraz Meltem» is underway.
As he explains, «the Turks as a people were more concerned with the influence of the wind on agricultural production and for this reason, the meletem was given names related to fruit production, such as initially ’kiraz meletem« (cherry), later »kavun meletem« (melon) and finally »ouzum meletem« (grape) at the end of August, when the grape production begins to be prepared.
The video shows the beneficial effect of the meltemius in our country, against the «attacks» of the warm masses both from the coasts of Africa and from the depths of Anatolia (kirtz meltem).».
🌬️ THE "KIRAZ MELTEM" IN ACTION
✅The Turks as a people were more concerned with the effect of wind on agricultural production and for this reason, the maltem was given names related to fruit production, such as initially ’kiraz maltem« (cherry), later »kavun maltem«... pic.twitter.com/eXAGvShnvj- Theodoros Kolydas (@KolydasT) June 17, 2024
How the extreme weather phenomena of the next few days will develop
In particular, on Tuesday 18.06.2024:
Very high potential for any forest fires to be wind-driven with potentially large heat loads is expected in Attica, Boeotia (locally), Central and Southern Evia, Mytilene, Chios, Samos (locally) and Southern Crete.
High potential for any forest fires to be wind-driven with potentially large heat loads is expected in Corinthia, Argolida, Laconia (locally) and Lemnos (locally).
For Wednesday 19.06.2024:
Very high potential for any forest fires to be wind-driven with potentially large heat loads is expected in Attica, Boeotia (locally), Central and Southern Evia, Laconia, Chios, Samos and Southern Crete.
High and locally very high potential for any forest fires to be wind-driven with potentially large heat loads is expected in Corinthia, Argolida, Cyclades and Mytilene.
Locally high potential for any forest fires to be self-directed fires with potentially large heat loads is expected in Ilia and Messinia.
It is noted that in the above geographical zones, particular attention should be paid to areas where northerly winds will be “aligned” with the topography and forest fuel (e.g., where the wind blows perpendicular to the slope of a densely vegetated mountain range), maximizing the potential for extreme fire behavior.
Finally, the currently available forecast data indicate a continuation of the Hot - Dry - Windy pyrometeorological pattern until Friday 21 June 2024.
Our Meteorological Team will monitor the latest available forecast and actual data and will come back with a newer pyrometeorological update.
