ATHENS (Reuters) – Greeks headed to beaches and public parks on Sunday, as a rare January heat wave gave a respite to the shutdown of the coronavirus that has triggered life across Europe.
With temperatures in Athens reaching 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit), people relaxed in the sand, swam in the sea and strolled along the promenade off the coast of Athens, while police patrolled to control the crowds.
In the last 50 years, such high temperatures in January have only been seen twice: in 1987 and 2010, the Athens National Observatory said.
“It’s not normal. This time last year it was cold, ”said Kyriakos Pitoulis, 65.“ On the other hand, it helps because people are docked at home and want to go somewhere to let go. They can’t stay home all the time. “
Greece has been partially closed since early November with people forced to wear masks in public. Authorities on Friday extended restrictions, including bans on public meetings, until at least Jan. 18 as it struggles to curb an increase in infections, mostly in the north.
After one of the hottest years on record last year, hot air masses and dust coming from the African continent suffocated the central horizon of Athens, with a temperature indicator on Sunday showing 31C in the sun.
This compares with January-January average temperatures in Greece ranging from 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 recede in the coming days.
Other parts of Europe have experienced extreme cold weather.
“Time drives us crazy! because we see snow, cold and disasters in Europe, in Spain, and here we have pleasant days, we have sun ”, said the swimmer Pavlos Vlachos.
Report by Deborah Kyvrikosaios, edited by James Mackenzie and Barbara Lewis