ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A powerful storm lashed the Greek islands of Paros and Mykonos on Monday, triggering widespread flooding and prompting authorities to close schools and impose a ban on all traffic except emergency vehicles.
Heavy rainfall in Paros' main towns of Parikia and Naousa – both popular vacation spots – caused floodwaters that surged through streets, carrying cars and debris past whitewashed buildings.
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A woman carries sun lounge cushions from a business after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
A view of damaged cars after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
A man tries to fix a car after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
People try to clear the mud from a hotel after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
Municipal workers clear mud with shovels after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
Authorities on Paros said 13 people stranded in the storm were taken by firefighters to their homes, adding that no one was reported injured or missing.
On Mykonos, where the flooding was less intense, excavators were used to clear a path for floodwater and it gushed past seafront cafes and restaurants.
Authorities ordered schools on Paros, Mykonos and two other Aegean Sea islands to remain closed on Tuesday, while the civil protection service sent cell phone alerts instructing residents to stay indoors. Municipal crews and private contractors worked to clear roads blocked by fallen rocks, while emergency services rescued stranded motorists.
Several islands near Paros, in the Cyclades group, which is southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea, remain under severe weather warnings though Tuesday.
A woman carries sun lounge cushions from a business after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
A view of damaged cars after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
A man tries to fix a car after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
People try to clear the mud from a hotel after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
Municipal workers clear mud with shovels after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding at the port of Naousa, on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (John Liakos/InTime News via AP)
PARIS (AP) — Tennis players at the French Open say they haven’t experienced conditions this hot at Roland Garros since the Paris Olympics.
And the 2024 Olympics were held in July and August.
Temperatures for the opening two days of the clay-court Grand Slam have soared to 33 degrees C (91 F) — far beyond normal for late May in the French capital. And it’s forecast to stay that way for the entire first week.
Besides making it uncomfortable for fans and players alike, the sultry conditions have also created faster conditions on court — changing the pace of the game.
“It is much different. Maybe it was that hot in the Olympics but the balls were different, so I wouldn’t treat it as the same tournament,” four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek said after routing Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in the first round on Monday.
Players have been putting bags of ice around their necks on changeovers to stay cool, while fans are refreshing themselves under sprinklers.
When workers water the clay courts between sets, they have taken to directing their hoses at spectators begging to be doused, too.
“I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros,” Russian-born Australian player Daria Kasatkina said after beating Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-4. “Maybe one day. But we’re going to have it for the whole week.”
Kasatkina said the energy-sapping temperatures made for more up-and-down matches.
“You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped,” she said. “So this is a battle which you have to also win. … Whoever adapts better to today’s conditions gets it.”
Canadian player Gabriel Diallo said the heat was the main reason why he retired midway through his match against James Duckworth on Sunday.
Both Andrey Rublev and opponent Ignacio Buse called for the trainer on separate occasions during the second set of their match on Monday.
Buse took a medical timeout and had salts and minerals added to his water bottle as a stethoscope was placed on his chest. Rublev received treatment a few games later.
The French Open is usually cool compared to the heat at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.
But like in Australia and New York, the French Open has adopted an extreme weather policy.
If the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) — which takes into account temperature, humidity, sun, wind and other factors — reaches 30.1 degrees C (86 F) or higher, 10-minute cooling breaks can be installed between the second and third sets for women’s matches and between the third and fourth sets for men’s matches.
If the WBGT hits 32.2 C (90 F), play is suspended. It would require an air temperature of about 38 C (100 F) for play to be suspended.
Some players were embracing the hotter air.
“I’ve always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface,” Australian player Alex de Minaur said after beating Toby Samuel 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
“It’s easier to be a little bit more aggressive. The ball is jumping. I don’t necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And it’s quite physical. I don’t mind the heat,” De Minaur added.
Same goes for American player Alex Michelsen, who eliminated Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets.
“It’s definitely good for us Americans,” Michelsen said. “Generally we’re big serve, big forehand, big ground game and like to play offense. When it’s super hot, the ball is moving through the air very fast. … I was so happy when I saw the forecast.”
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
A stadium worker sprays the court with water before the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Visitors cool themselves with water from sprinklers during a hot day at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
A woman cools herself with a portable fan during the first round men's singles tennis match between Alex De Minaur of Australia and Toby Samuel of Britain at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Spectators cool themselves with hand fans during the first round women's singles tennis match between Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Anna Bondar of Hungary at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Poland's Iga Swiatek gestures for a ballboy as he shields her from the sun during a break at the first round women's singles tennis match against Emerson Jones of Australia at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Visitors cool themselves with water from sprinklers during a hot day at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Alex De Minaur of Australia attends a break during the first round men's singles tennis match against Toby Samuel of Britain at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
