ATHENS (Reuters) – Greeks headed to beaches and public parks on Sunday, while a rare January heat wave provided a respite from the coronavirus blockage that has thrown life across Europe in disarray.
With temperatures in Athens set to reach 23 Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit), people sank on the sand, swam in the sea and walked along the promenade on the coast of Athens, while police patrolled to control the crowds. .
In the last 50 years, such high temperatures for January have been observed only twice: in 1987 and 2010, said the National Observatory in Athens.
“It is not normal. This time last year it was cold, “said Kyriakos Pitoulis, 65. “On the other hand, it helps because people are crowded at home and want to go somewhere to let go. I can’t stay home all the time. “
Greece has been partially closed since early November, with people forced to wear masks in public. On Friday, authorities extended restrictions, including bans on public assemblies, until at least January 18 as they work to slow the growth of infections, mainly in the north.
After one of the hottest years in the world last year, the warm air masses and dust that arrived from the African continent stifled the central horizon of Athens, with a temperature range on Sunday that showed 31C in the sun.
This was compared to average temperatures from January to January across Greece, ranging from zero to 5C, or at most 10C in coastal regions, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) said.
Meteorologists said the warm front, which entered on Saturday, is expected to retreat in the coming days.
Other parts of Europe 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 sun ”, said the sun Pavlos Vlachos.
Reported by Deborah Kyvrikosaios, edited by James Mackenzie and Barbara Lewis