Greece

Greece Weather Overview

The general weather across Greece follows a typical Mediterranean climate pattern with warm, dry summers and mild rainy winters. 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.

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 weather patterns and sub-climates. From skiing to sunbathing, the country has the weather for it all.

The Islands

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

A Mediterranean climate prevails in the Greek Islands with long, hot, dry summers and mild wet winters.

Summer weather in the islands begins in May with daily highs in the mid-20s. By July the daytime temperature is often in the 30s. July and August are the peak summer months, and temperature will rarely drop below 20°C even at night.

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.

The Mountains

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.

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.

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