ATHENS (Reuters) – Greeks went to beaches and public parks on Sunday, while a rare heat wave in January provided a respite for the closure of the coronavirus, which is causing chaos in Europe.
With temperatures in Athens reaching 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit), people slept on the sand, swam in the sea and strolled along the promenade off the coast of Athens, while police checked to control the crowds.
In the last 50 years, such high temperatures have been seen only twice for January: in 1987 and 2010, the National Observatory of Athens said.
‘It’s not normal. This time last year it was cold, “said 65-year-old Kyriakos Pitoulis. ‘On the other hand, it helps because people are caged at home and want to go somewhere to give off steam. They cannot stay at home all the time. ”
Greece has been partially locked up since the beginning of November with people being forced to wear masks in public. On Friday, authorities extended restrictions, including bans on public gatherings, to at least January 18 as they try to slow down an increase in infections, especially in the north.
After one of the hottest years recorded worldwide last year, hot air masses and dust coming from mainland Africa suffocated downtown Athens, with one temperature gauge displaying 31C in the sun on Sunday.
This compares with average January temperatures in January in Greece, ranging from below zero to 5C, or at most 10C in coastal regions, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said.
Meteorologists said the warm front, which came in on Saturday, is expected to decline in the next few days.
In other parts of Europe there is very cold weather.
“The weather is driving us crazy! because we see snow, cold and disasters in Europe, in Spain, and here we have nice days, we have sunshine, ”said sunbath Pavlos Vlachos.
Reporting by Deborah Kyvrikosaios, edited by James Mackenzie and Barbara Lewis