The Greek heatwaves of 1987 and 1988

Heatwaves, which occurred in both July 1987 and July 1988 in Greece, are considered from the point of view of human discomfort. Hourly values of dry bulb temperature and relative humidity at Thessaloniki, Larissa, and Athens were used to define various limits of discomfort defined by Terjung, Herrington, Thom, and Tromp. On both occasions the heatwave was most severe in Thessaloniki, although both Greek and British press reports concentrated on morbidity and mortality in Athens. Finally, the synoptic situation at the time of each episode is briefly described.