Greece Weather

It is a mountainous country with a very indented coastline and it includes numerous islands in the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Islands in the west, of which Corfu is the best known, and the large island of Crete, which lies in the middle of the eastern Mediterranean.

The country receives a lot of sunshine, for which it is rightly famous, and prolonged stretches of rainy weather are uncommon.

There are really only two seasons in Greece: hot and dry between April and September, and mild and wet from October to March. Spring and autumn are short seasons of transition from winter rain to summer heat and sun, when the weather may be very changeable from day to day.

There are, however, very varying weather patterns across the country dictated by the geography and topography. The high mountains, for example, provide a very different climate to the islands; inland areas have different weather to coastal areas; the south and the north are different.

Greece is a large and very varied country so there are many different Greece weather patterns and sub-climates. From skiing to sunbathing, the country has the weather for it all. In the north the climate bears some resemblance to that found in Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM); elsewhere the influence of the Mediterranean is dominant.

Summers are warm or even hot, with almost no cloud or rain for three months. The wettest season is winter, when the weather is generally mild at sea level although occasional spells of cold weather occur. Snow may fall almost anywhere in Greece in winter but is rare in the islands and does not lie for long at sea level.

Greece Weather - The Islands
Around the coasts and on the islands the summer heat is greatly tempered by strong to fresh daytime breezes. On a few occasions, however, when the air is calm the daytime heat can be oppressive inland or in a large town such as Athens. During the three summer months a persistent northerly wind, known as the etesian or Meltemi, blows in the Aegean and it may on occasions reach near gale force. It is strongest by day and drops to a near calm at night.

The Greek Islands are what most holiday makers come for. The weather is generally beautiful with cloudless blue skies, especially in summer.

Fortunately the islands are relieved by the cooling "meltemi" winds - sea breezes that blow from the north and north-west. The winds are strongest in July and August when they are needed the most. Mid-May to Mid-September is very dry, while July and August are unlikely to see any rainfall at all.

Winters are mild and wet - somewhat akin to an English spring. Temperature will generally be in the low to mid-teens, although a sunny day can sometimes see the temperature creep up towards 20°C. December is the wettest month of the year and over the winter there can often be strong storms in the Mediterranean.

These can bring miserable weather for a few days, with strong winds and torrential rain. However, as since most of the rain falls in heavy downpours in winter, there are still a lot of sunny days and it can be a very pleasant - and very quiet - time.

For some idea of average temperatures for the islands you can get some indication of likely weather conditions by going to weather in Patmos or Rhodes

Greece Weather - The Mountains
In the mountain regions of Greece, where many areas rise above 2,000 m/6,500 ft, the weather in winter and even into spring can be severe with frequent and heavy falls of snow and prolonged frost. Here summers are very pleasant since the days are sunny and often warm.

An outstanding feature of the Greek climate is the large amount of sunshine. This varies from four to five hours a day in midwinter to as much as twelve to fourteen hours a day in midsummer.

These amounts may be rather reduced in the mountains and in the extreme north. Rain tends to be heavy when it occurs and rarely lasts for very long except in the mountains or along the wetter west coast.The mountains obviously experience very different weather to the lower regions of Greece.

Their climate is alpine in its characteristics. The effects of the altitude mean colder temperatures, as well as the unpredictable nature of mountain weather - more rain, sudden storms, and more cloud cover.

Greece is one of Europe’s most mountainous countries, with over four fifths of the country consisting of mountains or hills. The highest peak in the country is Mt. Olympus at 2917m. Many of these higher mountains remain snow covered for several months of the year, and there are even several ski resorts - not something you’d usually associate with Greece! The mountain climate prevails predominantly in the high mountain ranges of mainland Greece but similar weather can also be seen in the high mountains of Crete.

Greece Weather - The Mainland
Mainland Greece has a slightly different climate again; it is less influenced by the sea than are the islands, and also takes influence from the mountain ranges it holds as well as the landmass of the European continent.

There are more extremes of temperature on the mainland compared to the island and coastal regions. Summer temperatures can be in the 40s - Athens has recorded a temperature of 48°C. A severe heat wave in summer 2007 saw devastating forest fires hit Greece.

A prolonged period of hot dry weather left the countryside susceptible to the ravaging fire. This is a frequent danger each summer in Greece. Conversely cold winter temperatures can occur and snow can even visit the low lying regions, though it is not common.

A severe cold snap in winter 2004 saw Athens receive snowfall and temperatures touching -10°C. The north of the country receives more extremes in temperature more regularly, and on average temperatures are up to 5°C cooler than the coastal regions.

Variations in weather occur across the Greek mainland - Eastern Greece and the Athens area are much dryer while the north and west have a wetter climate. Northern and Eastern Greece have a much more continental climate, experiencing the coolest temperatures in the country on average and a more extreme range between highs and lows.

As a result of this intermingling of mountain, island, and sea there are many local differences in the weather and climate within the country but the general features of weather throughout the year are much the same.

Visitors to Greece may find the sea rather too chilly for bathing in April or even early May, despite the high air temperature on sunny days. On the other hand in October or even November the sea still retains much of its summer warmth.

For those who dislike heat, April and May or September or October may be the most enjoyable seasons in Greece.