The Weather in Crete
As the southernmost of all Greek islands, Crete has by far the longest summers:you can still get a decent tan right through October and swim from April until early November. Spring is the prime time to come to get the best of Crete weather: in April and May the island is relatively empty of visitors, the weather clear and not overpoweringly hot as it can be in July and August, and everywhere you look is brightened by a profusion of wild flowers in bloom with magnificent colour. By mid-june the rush is beginning. July and August are not only yhte hottest, the most crowded and the most expensive months, they are also intermittently blighted by fierce winds and accompanying high seas, which make the boat trips very uncomfortable, and at their worst can mean staying indoors for a day or more at a time. The south coast is particularly prone to these. In September the crowds begin to thin out, gradually and autumn can again be a great time to visit. However, please bear in mind that the terrain has been exposed to high temperatures for several months at this time and the lanscape looks parched and tired, and there's a feeling of everything winding down. The feeling you get at the end of a party, when you are the last guests to leave.
In the mountains it snows, even to the extent where the villages can be totally cut off. Some may love the idea. On the south coast it is a few degrees higher, soothed by a breeze from Africa 125 miles away. You may get a week or more of really fine weather in Crete, in the middle of winter, but conversely, you can be subject to unexpected viciously cold snaps right through to the end of March. And these winds go right to your bones and it can be difficult to get warm. So, if you do plan a winter trip make sure your accommodation has central heating installed. Average temperatures and rainfall
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