(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, MAR 5 - Greece has recorded its warmest
winter, a leading weather scientist said Tuesday. Kostas
Lagouvardos, research director at the Athens national
observatory, told AFP that winter temperatures in 2023-2024 on
average stood at 11.8 degrees Celsius (53.24 Fahrenheit).
"This is the highest average temperature in December, January
and February" since records began in 1960, he said. The
observatory said it had analysed preliminary data from the EU's
Copernicus climate change service. The past decade has witnessed
the six warmest winters, it said. Since 1960, the maximum
average winter temperature has increased by 1.8 degrees Celsius
(3.24 Fahrenheit). Lagouvardos said the greater Athens area,
central and northeastern Greece, eastern Crete and the Cycladic
islands were at risk of drought this year. Last year was the
worst in terms of forest fires with nearly 175,000 hectares
(432,000 acres) ravaged and over 20 people killed, according to
the observatory. (ANSA-AFP).
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