Media: Hot town, summer in the city of Athens: Greece prepares for baking heat

How hot will it get in Greece after a cool June? Too hot to go outside, to the beach, or maybe even to archaeological sites where tourists who will have to line up in the heat will get sunshade and water at the Acropolis.

Temperatures are expected to reach 104-109 degrees which led Culture Minister Lina Mendoni to order precautionary measures at archaeological sites as near-record numbers of tourists are pouring in.

Greece’s National Meteorological Service EMY issued a RED ALERT warning on the prolonged heatwave which was named CLEON and is included in the Dangerous Weather Phenomena.

The Red Cross will assist in giving out free water at some sites but there’s little shade for visitors to the Acropolis which is seeing more than 17,000 visitors a day and long lines in the heat baking the ancient rocks.

There could also be changes in operating hours at some sites and the Panhellenic Union of Antiquities Custodians (PEYFA) asked the ministry to give instructions for dealing with the heat wave for visitors and the workers too.

The Civil Protection Ministry put out guidelines on how to deal with the searing temperatures that could last a week or more, with special concern for the elderly and those with health conditions and children.

Those included staying out of the sun and staying indoors, using air conditioning and fans where available, avoiding strenuous activities or outdoor work, and not sunbathing, running, or even walking.

Wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and light clothing – preferably cotton – when outdoors and eat light meals with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, going easy on fatty foods and drinking water and fluids but avoiding alcoholic drinks.

Municipalities are also allocating cool rooms for those without air conditioning or relief from the heat that will reach dangerous health levels for some, with rooms set up in community centers and pensioners clubs, and sports arenas to also help the homeless.