ATHENS (Reuters) – Greeks took to beaches and public parks on Sunday when a rare heat wave in January offered a reprieve from the blockade of the coronavirus that has confused life across Europe.
With temperatures in Athens reaching as high as 23 degrees Celsius, people lounged on the sand, swam in the sea and strolled the Athens coast promenade, while police patrolled to keep the crowds under control.
In the past 50 years, such high temperatures for January have only been observed twice: in 1987 and 2010, the National Observatory of Athens said.
‘It is not normal. Last year it was cold this time, ”said 65-year-old Kyriakos Pitoulis. “On the other hand, it helps because people are locked up at home and want to go somewhere to let off steam. They cannot always stay at home. “
Greece has been partially closed off since the beginning of November and people were forced to wear masks in public. On Friday, authorities extended the restrictions, including the ban on public gatherings, to at least January 18, as it aims to slow a spike in infections, mainly in the north.
After one of the hottest years recorded worldwide last year, hot air masses and dust from the African continent smothered the skyline of central Athens, with a temperature gauge on Sunday showing 31 ° C in the sun.
That compared to average January temperatures for January in Greece ranging from below zero to 5 ° C, or at most 10 ° C in coastal regions, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said.
Meteorologists said the warm front, which came in on Saturday, is expected to dissipate in the coming days.
Other parts of Europe have faced extremely cold weather.
“The weather is driving us crazy! because we see snow, cold and disasters in Europe, in Spain, and here we have beautiful days, we have sunshine, ”said sunbather Pavlos Vlachos.
Reporting by Deborah Kyvrikosaios, edited by James Mackenzie and Barbara Lewis