"Polarized Meltemi": Rare Wind Pattern Fueled Deadly Greek Wildfires, Meteorologist Says

A rare and unusually persistent wind pattern known as a "polarized meltemi" was a key factor behind the wildfires that devastated Western Attica in recent days, grounding firefighting aircraft and killing five firefighters, meteorologist Theodoris Kolydas has said in an analysis posted on X and his website. Greece's seasonal meltemi winds — strong northerly gusts common in the second half of July and early August — occasionally intensify into what Greek meteorological literature, dating to a ...

By ANTHEE CARASSAVA