WEATHER IN GREECE

Greek climate is tipically mediterranean or subtropical Introduction: Greece is located in Europe, next to Italy, on the Mediterranean Sea. Its climate is tipically mediterranean or subtropical, with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall.

Due to the country's geographical position, its rugged relief and its distribution between the mainland and the sea, there is great variation in Greece's climate on the coast as well as on the mainland. This kind of climatological diversity can be found only in a few countries in the world.

In regards to the climate, Greek year can be divided in two main seasons: winter season which is cold and wet and lasts from the second half of October till the end of March, and hot and dry season which lasts from April to October.

Winter season: Winters in Greece are generally short and mildly wet. The coldest months of the first season are January and February when the medium temperatures are from 5-10°C on the sea and from 0-5°C on the mainland, while on the nord the temperatures are sometimes even bellow zero.
The rainy and cloudy days usually don’t last for long. First sunny days appear already in January and in the first two weeks of February - throughout the history these days were known as “Alcionid days”.

In the upper part of Greece the winters are pretty cold and the snow is not uncommon. It is this that makes Greece an ideal place for winter vacations as well as summer vacations. There are several ski centres operating throughout Greece and these attract thousands of visitors every year. In Athens snow is less common, especially in the south and on the islands where the winters are milder.

Summer season: During the hot and dry season, the weather is stable, the sky almost completely calm with lot of sunshine and very little rainfall: great holidays in Greece guaranteed. The hottest period of the year is the end of July and the beginning of August, when the daily temperature is usually between 29° and 35°C and it’s recommended to stay out of the sun from 11.00 to 14.00 when the sun is at its strongest.

Some regions are characterized by the Meltemi, a summer wind which blows mostly on the islands of the Aegean and offers a welcome relief to the heat but also a perfect wind conditions for sailing and windsurfing.

Winds in Greece: Concerning sailing in Greece, the country's winds can be divided in two sea regions: the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea.

The Aegean Sea Winds usually appear during the summer season, from May to September but they are particularly known for the months of July and August.
Those winds, as already mentioned, are called "Meltemi" and they are mostly blowing during the day and their average duration is from 2 to 4 days.
The "Meltemi" do not have the same direction in all the regions of the Aegean Seas. In the North Aegean, they come from the NE, in the central Aegean (Cyclades) from the North and in the South Aegean from the NW. The intensity of the winds varies depending of the region. One of the stronger Meltmi can be found in Naxos Island in the Cyclades and attracts many windsurfers. Many winds blow in the Aegean Sea also in winter with forces of 8-9 Beaufort.

The Ionian Sea Winds usually appear during summer season and are called "Maistros" and are blowing from NW. The winter winds of the Ionians are called "Sirocco". The Greek seas also welcome many races.

Information: More information, weather forecasts and statistical data can be requested from: