Athens Extreme Fire Risk Alert (Category 5): 13–14 August 2026
Update — Friday 14 August 2026: Attica stays under a Category 5 extreme fire-risk alert for a second consecutive day, alongside Boeotia, Evia, Argolida and Corinthia. Gale-force meltemi winds of 7–8 Beaufort are forecast, locally reaching 9 Beaufort in eastern and southern Attica, with gusts above 100 km/h over southern Evia and south-western Andros. Forecasters expect sea transport across the Aegean to be disrupted, and temperatures to fall by 6–7°C. Athens International Airport, Metro Line 3 and private road transfers are unaffected. Lycabettus and Finopoulos hills remain closed to visitors and vehicles from midnight on 12 August until further notice.
Source: ProtoThema English, 13 August 2026
Thursday 13 August 2026: Greece’s General Secretariat for Civil Protection has placed Attica under a Category 5 “state of alarm” — the highest level on the national fire-risk scale — for today, alongside Boeotia, Euboea, Corinthia, Argolis and Lesbos. Athens International Airport, Metro Line 3 and road transfers are all operating normally, but access to national parks, forests and vulnerable areas has been preventively banned, and north-northeasterly winds of 40–70 km/h (locally stronger) can disrupt ferry departures at short notice.
| What | Status today |
|---|---|
| Athens International Airport | Open and operating normally |
| Metro Line 3 & city transport | Running normally — no strike |
| Private airport transfers & taxis | Running normally |
| Ferries (Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio) | Sailing, but strong winds can cancel departures at short notice |
| National parks, forests, hiking trails | Closed to visitors and vehicles under the Civil Protection ban |
What happened
Civil Protection issued its Fire Risk Forecast Map for Thursday 13 August 2026 showing risk category 5 — “state of alarm” — for the Region of Attica, the regional units of Boeotia and Euboea, Argolis and Corinthia, and Lesbos. A large part of the rest of the country sits at category 4 (very high). Fire Service personnel in category 5 areas are on full general alert, with aerial and ground patrols running through the day.
The trigger is the “Hot-Dry-Windy” pattern forecast for the next 48 hours: north-northeasterly winds of 40–60 km/h, locally above 60–70 km/h, combined with heat and very dry vegetation. Conditions are expected to deteriorate further on Friday 14 August. Nothing in the alert closes the airport or the metro — it is a prevention measure, not a transport shutdown.
What it means for your Athens airport transfer
Practically nothing changes for the airport run itself: the motorway, the metro and taxis all operate as usual. Three things are worth planning around. First, if your day involves Parnitha, Hymettus, Sounio or any forest or national-park trail, assume it is closed and swap it for a city or coastal plan. Second, if you are connecting to an island, re-confirm your sailing before you leave for Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio — wind, not strike action, is what cancels boats in mid-August. Third, if a fire does start somewhere in Attica, road diversions can appear within the hour; a pre-booked transfer with a driver who reroutes on the spot is the least fragile way to reach the airport on a day like this.
Source: Parapolitika — Civil Protection Fire Risk Forecast Map for Thursday 13 August 2026
Travelling to or from the airport today?
Book a private transfer with flight tracking and let the driver handle any diversions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athens Airport affected by the Category 5 fire alert?
No. Athens International Airport, Metro Line 3 and the airport road links are all operating normally on 13 August 2026. A category 5 alert raises Fire Service readiness and closes forest areas; it does not close the airport.
Are the Acropolis and other archaeological sites open?
No closure of the Acropolis has been announced for today. On extreme-heat days the Culture Ministry sometimes shortens midday hours at short notice, so check the official site times on the morning of your visit and carry water.
Will my ferry to the islands be cancelled?
Possibly. The same winds driving the fire risk reach gale force in the Aegean, and port authorities can suspend sailings from Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio with little notice. Re-confirm with your operator before taking a transfer to the port.
Related guides
- Athens Strikes & Travel Disruptions: Live Tracker
- Kouvaras wildfire, 10 August 2026
- Athens heatwave and fire alert, July 2026
- Athens Airport Taxi Guide 2026
- Athens Ferries Guide
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