The first short-term “heat wave” of the season is expected this week with temperatures to rise up to 38 degrees Celsius by Thursday. According to meteorologists, temperatures in the northern parts of the mainland will reach 35-36 degrees on Wednesday, while the rest of the country will experience 37 degrees. Thursday however is expected to be the warmest day of the week with temperatures reaching a 39 degrees peak. In Athens the temperature will rise at 37 degrees. Similar conditions will also affect the islands of the Aegean where in Crete and the Dodecanese temperature is expected to climb to 34 degrees with stifling-high humidity levels.