Athens, Greece – March 19, 2026 – A dense veil of African dust has covered Athens for the second consecutive day, creating a suffocating atmosphere and a hazy sky. This persistent phenomenon has severely impacted air quality, prompting concerns among residents, particularly those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Saharan Dust Transforms Athenian Landscape
Cars, balconies, and streets across the Greek capital are coated with fine layers of dust, while visibility remains significantly reduced in many areas. The dust, transported from the Sahara Desert, has led to a noticeable deterioration in air quality over the past few days. Meteorologists indicate that a gradual subsidence of the dust is expected from Thursday, March 20, as changing weather conditions and rainfall are anticipated to help clear the atmosphere, progressively restoring cleaner skies.
Health Concerns Amidst Dust Cloud
The prolonged presence of Saharan dust particles in the air poses potential health risks. Individuals with respiratory problems, such as asthma or chronic bronchitis, are advised to take precautions, including limiting outdoor activities and wearing protective masks when necessary. Authorities have not yet issued specific health warnings, but public awareness regarding the impact of poor air quality remains high.
Detailed Weather Forecast for March 2026
The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) has released a detailed weather forecast for the coming days, outlining the conditions expected to alleviate the dust phenomenon and bring about a change in the atmospheric landscape across Greece.
Thursday, March 19, 2026:
- Macedonia, Thrace: Increased cloudiness with local rains, mainly in the western and central parts from noon onwards. Snowfall expected in mountainous areas. Winds will be easterly-northeasterly at 3 to 5 Beaufort, locally 6 to 7 Beaufort in eastern sea and coastal areas. Temperatures will range from 4 to 15 degrees Celsius, with western Macedonia experiencing 2 to 4 degrees lower maximum temperatures.
- Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Sterea, Western Peloponnese: Increased cloudiness with local rains and scattered thunderstorms, particularly in the Ionian Sea and western Peloponnese, which may be temporarily intense. Snowfall expected in the mainland mountainous areas. Winds will be easterly at 4 to 6 Beaufort. Temperatures will range from 9 to 15 degrees Celsius, with inland Epirus experiencing 3 to 4 degrees lower temperatures.
- Thessaly, Eastern Sterea, Evia, Eastern Peloponnese: Increased cloudiness with local rains and scattered thunderstorms in the southern Peloponnese by evening. Snowfall expected in mountainous areas. Winds will be northerly-northeasterly at 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally 7 Beaufort in southern sea and coastal areas. Temperatures will range from 6 to 15 degrees Celsius.
- Cyclades, Crete: Temporarily increased cloudiness with local rains. Isolated thunderstorms are possible until the morning hours, while scattered thunderstorms will occur in western Crete from evening. Snowfall expected in the mountainous areas of Crete during the night. Winds will be northerly at 4 to 6 Beaufort, 7 in western parts and locally up to 8 Beaufort in the morning. Temperatures will range from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius.
- Eastern Aegean Islands – Dodecanese: Temporarily increased cloudiness with light local rains, intensifying in the north by evening, with isolated thunderstorms possible during the night. Winds will be northerly at 4 to 6 Beaufort, 7 in the north and locally 8 Beaufort. Temperatures will range from 11 to 18 degrees Celsius, with northern parts experiencing 3 to 4 degrees lower temperatures.
- Attica: Increased cloudiness with local rains. Winds will be northerly-northeasterly at 4 to 5 Beaufort, locally 6 to 7 Beaufort in eastern parts. Temperatures will range from 8 to 13 degrees Celsius.
- Thessaloniki: Increased cloudiness with local rains from the afternoon. Light snowfall expected in mountainous areas. Winds will be variable at 3 to 4 Beaufort. Temperatures will range from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius.
Friday, March 20, 2026:
Temporarily increased cloudiness, mainly in the east and south, with local rains. Scattered thunderstorms will occur in Crete and the Dodecanese. Snowfall will persist until late afternoon in the mainland mountainous areas and in the mountainous areas of Crete. Meteorological conditions favor the persistence of increased concentrations of African dust in the atmosphere. Winds will be northerly, 3 to 5 Beaufort in the west, locally 6 Beaufort in the Ionian Sea, and 6 to 7 Beaufort in the east, locally 8 Beaufort in the central and northern Aegean. Temperatures will experience a slight further drop, mainly in the east and north. They will reach 11 to 14 degrees in the north, 13 to 15 in other areas, and locally 16 to 17 degrees Celsius in the Ionian Sea, western mainland, and the Dodecanese.
Saturday, March 21, 2026:
Few clouds with temporarily increased cloudiness and local rains in the eastern and southern, mainly sea and coastal areas. Isolated thunderstorms are possible until midday in the Dodecanese and Crete. Light snowfall expected in the mainland mountainous areas. Meteorological conditions favor the persistence of increased concentrations of African dust in the atmosphere. Winds will be northerly, 3 to 4 Beaufort in the west, 5 to 7 Beaufort in the east, and locally 8 Beaufort in the Aegean during the morning hours. Temperatures will experience a slight rise, mainly in the north.
Sunday, March 22, 2026:
Unstable weather with temporarily increased cloudiness and local rains in the eastern and southern, mainly sea and coastal areas, and local rains or showers in the remaining mainland, mainly mountainous areas, during the midday and afternoon hours. Light snowfall expected in the mainland mountainous areas. Winds will be variable light in the west and northerly at 4 to 5 Beaufort in the east, temporarily up to 6 Beaufort in the Aegean. Temperatures will not change significantly.
Monday, March 23, 2026:
Unstable weather with temporarily increased cloudiness and local rains mainly in the sea and coastal areas, and local rains or showers in the remaining mainland, mainly mountainous areas, during the midday and afternoon hours. Scattered thunderstorms are possible in the Ionian Sea. Snowfall expected in the mountainous areas of central and northern Greece. Winds will be variable at 3 to 4 Beaufort in the west and northerly at 4 to 5 Beaufort in the east, locally 6 Beaufort in the Aegean. Temperatures will not change significantly.
The forecast, provided through WINDY utilizing the GFS, ECMWF, and NEMS prognostic models, indicates a gradual improvement in atmospheric conditions over the next few days, offering relief from the current dust-laden environment.
Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), Newsbomb.gr
